seasonal changes in the content and composition of lipids in acropora downingi

the lipid content and composition of the reef-building coral acropora downingi, the largest coral reef of hengam island, were examined throughout a year. the results showed that the lipid content of a. downingi significantly differs in different seasons (t-test, p< 0.05). depending on the season and spawning times, the lipid content of a. downingi ranged from 16.5 to 37.7 % (dry weight). the total lipid content was the lowest in the cooler and the highest in the warmest seasons, when solar irradiance were at their highest. gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms) analysis of fatty acid composition of the lipid contents showed that palmitic acid (16:0) was the most abundant fatty acid component of these lipid classes, and other fatty acid concentrations were as follows: stearidonic acid (18:3, n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n-3) and stearic acid (18:0), respectively.