Influences of Seasonal Variability and Potential Diets on Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acid Compositions in Dominant Zooplankton in the East Sea, Korea

Despite their crucial roles in transporting primary productions marine food webs, the trophic dynamics of zooplankton throughout seasons have rarely been studied. In this study, four dominant taxa with phytoplankton size composition and productivity were collected over East Sea, which is known to change more rapidly than global trends. We then analyzed δ13C δ15N values fatty acid zooplankton. The heavy February August 2021 observed high concentrations total chlorophyll-a, differences among coastal region (site 105-05) most pronounced 2021. relative amounts eicosapentaenoic (C20:5(n-3)) docosahexaenoic (C22:6(n-3)), indicators nutritional quality, also highest Non-metric multivariate analyses showed dissimilarity during period based on chlorophyll-a (51.6%), may be due an increase available foods highly productive season. conclusion, dietary intake can reduced by transition phytoplankton, has important implications for impact climate planktonic ecosystems Sea.