The use of larval fatty acids as an index of growth in Mytilus edulis L. larvae

Continuous cultures of Chaetoceros muelleri, Skeletonema costatum and Rhinomonas reticulata of controlled biochemical compositions were fed to Mytilus edulis larvae over a 2-week period and the larval growth was assessed. The eggs as well as the larvae which subsequently developed were analyzed for their relative fatty acid profile and content; 27 fatty acids were identified by means of GCrMS. Larval 15:0 and saturated fatty acids, in general, were found to be negatively correlated with larval growth, while polyunsaturated and ny3 fatty acids were positively correlated with growth. It is therefore proposed that the proportions of certain fatty acids and groups of fatty acids may be used as indices of growth and condition in M. edulis larvae. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.