Are Rhodophyceae a dietary component for deep-sea holothurians?

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Bühring, S.I., Koppelmann, R., Christiansen, B., Weikert, H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2002
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315402005556; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315402005556

Eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4(n-6)), a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), was found in deep-sea holothurians at a depth of nearly 5000 m in the temperate north-east Atlantic. It has been suggested that deep-sea animals may be able to synthesize this compound de novo . Since this fatty acid is typical of Rhodophyceae, which has previously been found incorporated in gelatinous material captured in the deep sea, an alternative origin of this fatty acid in the deep-sea holothurians is proposed.