in Antarctic Mid-water Food Webs.
Seasonal lipid storage and production has been investigated in many species of Antarctic organisms. The roles of naturally produced fatty acids, wax esters, triacylglycerols, sterols, phospholipids, and hydrocarbons have been investigated in organisms’ life stages ranging from early larvae to adults. In general, we have found that total lipid levels were higher in deeper dwelling organisms and some lipids were higher in Antarctic organisms than in their subtropical counterparts. Studies of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, indicate a large accumulation of seasonal lipid stores during the austral summer and a rapid decrease during the winter months, indicating the utilization of these lipids as part of the overwintering strategy for these organisms. Data indicate that triacylglycerols and phospholipids are the main lipids used for this purpose by E. superba. In other dominant Antarctic krill species such as Euphausia crystallorophias and Thysanoessa macrura, wax esters and phospholipids function as the overwintering storage lipids. Seasonal lipid changes are most pronounced in the immature and adult species.
Representative publications:
Reinhardt, S.B. and Van Vleet, E.S. 1986. Lipid composition of Antarctic midwater organisms. Marine Biology 91: 149-159.
Reinhardt, S.B. and Van Vleet, E.S. 1986. Hydrocarbons of Antarctic midwater organisms. Polar Biology 6: 47-51.
Hagen, W.H., E.S. Van Vleet and G. Kattner. 1996. Seasonal lipid storage as overwintering strategy of Antarctic krill. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 134:85-89.
Hagen, W., G. Kattner, A. Terbruggen and E.S. Van Vleet. 2001. Lipid metabolism of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba and its ecological implications. Marine Biology. 139:95-104.
