Effect of temperature on the fatty acid composition and temporal trajectories of fatty acids in fasting Daphnia pulex (Crustacea, cladocera)

Poikilothermic organisms accumulate highly unsaturated FA (HUFA) in their lipids at reduced temperatures to maintain cell membrane fluidity. In this study we investigated the effect of temperature on temporal trajectories of FA of fasting Daphnia pulex cultured on a HUFA-free diet. Daphnia pulex populations were maintained for 1 mon at 22 and 11 degrees C and were fed the chlorophyte Ankistrodesmus falcatus. We observed conversion of C18 FA precursors to EPA (20:5n3) and arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n6) in D. pulex. We showed that long-term exposure to cold temperature causes a significant increase in EPA. HUFA such as ARA and EPA are highly conserved during starvation. Therefore, D. pulex has the biosynthetic capacity to adjust and to maintain the content of HUFA required to survive at low temperatures.