Author/Authors :
Mehdinia, Ali Department of Marine Living Science, Ocean Sciences Research Center, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran , Sheijooni Fumani, Neda Department of Marine Living Science, Ocean Sciences Research Center, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran , Saleh, Abolfazl Department of Marine Living Science, Ocean Sciences Research Center, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran , Vajed Samiei, Jahangir Department of Marine Living Science, Ocean Sciences Research Center, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran , Hashtroudi, Mehri Department of Marine Living Science, Ocean Sciences Research Center, Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
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.
Keywords :
Acropora downingi , Hengam Island , Persian Gulf , Lipid , Fatty Acid
