Lipids and nitrogen isotopes of deep-water corals

• Main Authors: Kiriakoulakis, Kostas, Fisher, Elizabeth, Wolff, George A, Freiwald, André, Grehan, Anthony J, Roberts, Murray J
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2005
• Subjects: ACES; Atlantic Coral Ecosystem Study; BC; Belgica Mounds; Beryl_Alpha; Box corer; Cork Harbour; D248; D248_13823#12; D248_13823#8; D248_13825#1; D248_13828#1; D248_13831#1; D248_13832#2; D248_13841#1; D248_13874#2; D248_13881#3; Darwin Mound; Darwin Mounds; Discovery (1962); Dredge_4; Dredge; triangle; ECOMOUND; Environmental controls on mound formation along the european margin; GeoB6710-1; GeoB6713-1; GeoB6732-1; GeoB6742-1; GeoB8029-1; GeoB8036-1; GeoB8042-1; GeoB8044-1; GeoB8048-1; GeoB8068-1; GeoB8076-1; GeoB8078-1; GeoB8081-1; GeoB8103-1; GeoB8106-1; GeoB8107-1; Limfjorden; Logachev Mounds; M2000_BX01#32; M2000_BX02#50; M2000_BX11#3; M2000_BX13#34; M2000_BX21#51; North Sea; Norwegian fjord; Lophelia pertusa
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.738279; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.738279

The lipid and organic nitrogen isotopic (delta15N) compositions of two common deep-water corals (Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata) collected from selected locations of the NE Atlantic are compared to the composition of suspended particulate organic matter, in order to determine their principle food source. Initial results suggest that they may feed primarily on zooplankton. This is based on the increased abundances of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and alcohols and the different ratios of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, 22:6/20:5 of the corals when compared to those of the suspended particulate organic matter. There is enrichment in L. pertusa of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and of delta15N relative to M. oculata. It is unclear whether this reflects different feeding strategies or assimilation/storage efficiencies of zooplankton tissue or different metabolism in the two coral species.