Cited by 181Polar Research and EcologyMarine and coastal plant biologySeaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds

Fatty acid composition of Arctic and Antarctic macroalgae: indicator of phylogenetic and trophic relationships

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Graeve, M, Kattner, G, Wiencke, C, Karsten, U·2002·Marine Ecology Progress Series

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 231:67-74 (2002) - doi:10.3354/meps231067 Fatty acid composition of Arctic and Antarctic macroalgae: indicator of phylogenetic and trophic relationships Martin Graeve1,*, Gerhard Kattner1, Christian Wiencke1, Ulf Karsten2 1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany 2University of Rostock, Department of Biology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany *E-mail: mgraeve@awi-bremerhaven.de ABSTRACT: The fatty acid composition of 6 Arctic and 14 Antarctic macroalgae species (Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta) from Kongsfjorden (west Spitsbergen, Arctic) and King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula) was investigated. The macroalgae were cultivated in nutrient-enriched seawater at low temperatures (0 to 5°C) and light conditions similar to natural irradiance. The most abundant fatty acids in the Arctic and Antarctic Rhodophyta were generally 20:5(n-3) and 16:0. The Arctic Palmaria palmata and the Antarctic Audouinella purpurea were characterised by very high proportions of 20:5(n-3) (67.3 and 60.3%, respectively). Other important fatty acids were 16:1(n-7) and 20:4(n-6). Two species were dominated by 20:4(n-6) (Phycodrys rubens, 35.3% and Delesseria lancifolia, 31.1%). In Ptilota gunneri and Rhodymenia subantarctica, 16:1(n-7) accounted for 39.9 and 32.7%, respectively. In the Phaeophyta, the major polyunsaturated fatty acids were 18:4(n-3), 20:5(n-3) and 20:4(n-6) followed by 18:3(n-3) and 18:2(n-6). The principal saturated fatty acid was 16:0. A high percentage of the uncommon monounsaturated fatty acid 16:1(n-5) (11.1%) was found in Desmarestia muelleri sporophytes. Their gametophytes exhibited only traces of this component, but instead had double the amount of 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3). The Arctic chlorophyte Prasiola crispa and the Antarctic Lambia antarctica had fatty acid compositions dominated by the polyunsaturated fatty acids 18:3(n-3) and 18:2(n-6). In L. antarctica, 18:1(n-7) was present at higher levels than 18:2(n-6). The clear differences in fatty acid compositions of these 3 taxa are probably due to their different evolutionary position. The high proportions of 20:5(n-3) in the Rhodophyta reflect a Œmarine¹-like character and hence the phylogenetically oldest lineage. The Chlorophyta comprise the most Œmodern¹ group and this is supported by primarily C18 unsaturated fatty acids typical of the vegetative tissue of higher plants. The fatty acid composition of the Phaeophyta support their intermediate position. The clear differences between the macroalgal taxa, and also variations between species, make fatty acids a potential tracer for studies of food-web interactions. KEY WORDS: Macroalgae · Arctic · Antarctic · Fatty acids · Polyunsaturates · Biosynthesis Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 231. Online publication date: April 23, 2002 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2002 Inter-Research.

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  • Several recent studies analyzed the constituent fatty acids of large numbers of red, brown, and green macroalgae from polar, temperate, and tropical habitats, and, despite some species variability, red and brown macroalgae had a high proportion of total FAs in EPA and arachidonic acid across latitudes, whereas the green algae had low EPA but some DHA, and were enriched in C18 LC PUFA.

    “Several recent studies analyzed the constituent fatty acids of large numbers of red, brown, and green macroalgae from polar (Graeve et al. 2002, 20 species), temperate (Schmid et al. 2014, 16 species; McCauley et al. 2015, 10 species), and tropical (Kumari et al. 2010, 27 species; Kumar et al. 2011, 22 species) habitats, and, despite some species variability, red (Rhodophyta) and brown (Phaeophy”

    From Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding. (2017) · cites this paper as Graeve et al. 2002

  • At realistic daily consumption levels (e.g., 8 g dry wt.), even red algae such as Porphyra umbilicalis and Palmaria palmata that have a high proportion of their total fatty acids as EPA will not meet dietary recommendations for daily EFA alone.

    “and at realistic daily consumption levels (e.g., 8 g dry wt., Blouin et al. 2006), even red algae such as Porphyra umbilicalis (laver) and Palmaria palmata (dulse) (Fig. 5) that have a high proportion of their total fatty acids as EPA (Mishra et al. 1993; Graeve et al. 2002; Blouin et al. 2006; Schmid et al. 2014) will not meet dietary recommendations for daily EFA alone (Blouin et al. 2006)”

    From Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding. (2017) · cites this paper as Graeve et al. 2002

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Authors
Graeve, M., Kattner, G., Wiencke, C., & Karsten, U.
Affiliations
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE)
  • University of Rostock (DE)
Corresponding author
Graeve, M
Venue
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Published
2002
Volume
231
Pages
67-74
ISSN
  • 0171-8630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1616-1599
OpenAlex
W2154644474
Cited by
181
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 13
FWCI
4.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Marine Ecology Progress Series (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Cambridge
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Polar Research and Ecology
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal plant biology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
Keywords
fatty acid composition, seaweed, Antarctic macroalgae, red algae, brown algae, Chlorophyta, Palmaria palmata, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, phylogenetic relationships, trophic interactions, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid

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