INTER-SITE DIFFERENCES AND SEASONAL PATTERNS OF FATTY AND PROFILES IN GREEN-LIPPED MUSSELS PERNA VIRIDIS IN A SUBTROPICAL EUTROPHIC HARBOUR AND ITS VICINITY

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)peer-review

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Author(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMussels
Subtitle of host publicationAnatomy, Habitat and Environmental Impact
EditorsLauren E.  McGevin
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Chapter1
Pages1-41
ISBN (print)9781617617638
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2011

Publication series

NameFish, fishing and fisheries

Abstract

Fatty acid profiles of total particulate matters (TPMs) in water and green-lipped mussels Perna viridis were studied for one year in the eutrophic Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong and its vicinity. Bimonthly sampling of TPMs and P. viridis were conducted at four sites inside the harbour, namely Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), North Point (NP), Kwun Tong (KT) and Central (C) and two references sites outside of the harbour, namely Peng Chau (PC) and Tung Lung Chau (TLC).
Levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) 16:0 and 18:0 in TPMs, signatures of marine detritus, bacteria and nano-zooplankton, were higher at reference sites than at harbour sites. In contrast, levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) 18:1n9 and 18:1n7 and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) 18:2n6 were higher in Victoria Harbour than at reference sites. These suggested that the waters in Victoria Harbour contained relatively high amounts of marine fungi and bacteria, reflecting the poor water quality within the harbour proper. The gonad and soma of mussels from the six sites exhibited similar inter-site differences and seasonal changes in fatty acid profiles. The fatty acid profiles of mussels were affected by their diets, which, in turn, depended on the composition of TPMs in the water column. For inter-site differences, levels of SFAs 16:0 and 18:0, which are indicative of presence of marine detritus, were significantly higher at TLC and PC than C, TST and NP, whereas amounts of MUFAs 18:1n9, 20:1n9 and PUFA 18:2n6, which are indicative of presence of zooplankton and marine fungi, were higher at the harbour sites than the reference sites. For seasonal changes, levels of SFAs 14:0, 16:0 and 18:0 were generally higher in summer than winter whereas levels of MUFA 18:1n9 and PUFA 18:2n6 were higher in winter than summer. The fatty acid profiles of TPMs in the water samples were positively correlated with those of gonad and soma of mussels. This further reflected that the fatty acid profiles of mussels were affected by their food sources. Temperature and chlorophyll a in the water samples were positively correlated with the fatty acid profiles of TPMs. Levels of PUFAs 20:5n3 and 20:6n3 in TPMs, which are important for reproduction of mussels, were not correlated with those in the gonad and soma. The present findings suggested that these fatty acids tended to be affected by the reproductive period of the mussels rather than by their diets.

Research Area(s)

Citation Format(s)

INTER-SITE DIFFERENCES AND SEASONAL PATTERNS OF FATTY AND PROFILES IN GREEN-LIPPED MUSSELS PERNA VIRIDIS IN A SUBTROPICAL EUTROPHIC HARBOUR AND ITS VICINITY. / Cheung, S. G.; Shin, P. K. S.
Mussels: Anatomy, Habitat and Environmental Impact. ed. / Lauren E.  McGevin. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2011. p. 1-41 (Fish, fishing and fisheries).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)peer-review