Effect of acidification on fatty acids profiling of marine benthic harpacticoid copepod Parastenhelia sp.

Effect of acidification on the fatty acid (FA) profile of benthic harpacticoid copepod Parastenhelia sp. was investigated in-vitro. Copepods were exposed to different pH viz. 4 ± 0.3, 5 ± 0.3, 6 ± 0.3, 7 ± 0.3 and 8 ± 0.3 at constant salinity of 32‰ and a temperature of 28 °C for 30 days. After the experiment, fatty acid profiles of test and control copepods (pH: 8 ± 0.3) were analysed using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The present study reveals the negative influence of acidification on the fatty acid contents in copepods. The detected FAs are ranging from C4-C24. Among the fatty acids, Heneicosanoic acid and cis-11, 14-eicosadienoic acids are found in higher percentage in all the pH levels. However, highly unsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are reported to be low in acidified pH of 4 ± 0.3 compared to other pH tested. Results clearly indicate that the acidification can adversely affect the fatty acids profile of marine copepod Parastenhelia sp. that can be considered as one of the candidates for live feed of fish and shrimp for larval production in wild and aquaculture industry.