Dr. Urzúa-Osorio, Ángel

Marine trophodynamics refer to the transfer of energy from prey to predators. In marine invertebrates and fishes, the nutrients obtained through the consumption of food and/or prey are stored as energy reserves in certain tissues and/or organs including the liver, muscle, or gonads, and that these are subsequently used as bioenergetic fuel for highly energy-demanding fundamental physiological processes. In the southern Humboldt Current System, the interaction between two highly migratory resources and top species has been observed: the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and its prey the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas). Because of this trophic interaction, these species store large amounts of energy (as lipids and fatty acids) in their main organs. However, how the fatty acid profile varies in the various organs of the predator and its prey is still unknown, as is its potential use as trophic biomarkers and the ecophysiological role it plays. Our results showed a moderate similarity between the fatty acid profile of the digestive gland of D. gigas with the profiles of the liver, gonad, and muscle of X. gladius, particularly with fatty acids: palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1n9), gadoleic (C20:1), EPA (C20:5n3), and DHA (C22:6n3). Our findings on the use of fatty acids as biomarkers of the interaction between two highly migratory species in the southern Humboldt System may reveal the degree of preference swordfish have for preying on jumbo squid, particularly through the consumption of the digestive gland. In both species, a high bioenergetic fuel content characterized by a predominance of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be necessary to sustain the high energy costs involved in their migratory and reproductive processes in the Humboldt Current system.

The traceability of fish species and their resulting food products is essential to maintain the global supply of these goods, allowing us to distinguish and reconstruct the origin and history of their production chain. One way to trace food is through biochemical determinations, which aid in identifying their geographical origin quickly. This study analyzed the fatty acid (FA) profiles of highly migratory fishery resource species (HMRS) from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean (SEPO), and their use as potential tools to determine the geographic origin and nutritional condition of these marine resources. The fatty acids (FAs) presented in fillet or muscle tissue of 18 HMRS were measured as FA methyl esters by gas chromatography. Our results reveal that the swordfish Xiphias gladius presented the greatest variety of FAs, strongly characterized by the presence of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated FAs. A similar trend of high diversity in all classes of FAs was observed in tuna species (i.e., Thunnus alalunga; T. albacares; T. obesus), oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) and escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum). In turn, Lampris guttatus, Makaira indica, and Tetrapturus audax presented an intermediate variety of FAs and the highest amount of saturated and monounsaturated FAs of the evaluated species. Finally, Luvarus imperialis, Coryphaena hippurus and the sharks (Lamna nasus; Alopias vulpinus; Prionace glauca; Isurus oxyrinchus; Sphyrna zygaena) presented a low diversity of FAs, with only saturated FAs strongly predominating. Regarding the total concentration of FAs, the highest average values were recorded in X. gladius, L. flavobrunneum and R. pretiosus. The present study revealed notable differences in the FA compositions of the muscle of diverse HMRS from the SEPO off the coast of Chile, with the swordfish showing the healthiest FAs (i.e., mono and polyunsaturated) for human consumption. The data on FAs collected for HMRS could be used as a reference to characterize the FA profiles of other fisheries in the SEPO (e.g., coastal pelagic fishes). In an ecosystem approach, our findings help us to understand how essential nutrients (i.e., FA biomolecules) are transferred through the marine food web in the SEPO, revealing the diet type and/or feeding habits of HMRS considered as top predators. Furthermore, identifying the FA profiles of fishery resources at a spatial level provides crucial information for their management and conservation, particularly in those resources that are overexploited and also have a critical nutritional importance for human consumption.

In coastal Antarctic environments, glacial meltwater changes the nutrients and physicochemical parameters in the water column. Consequently, top-down cascading effects are triggered throughout the food web, which can affect the bioenergetic condition of benthic invertebrates and their coupling processes between energy levels and flows throughout the marine food web. In this study, two benthic polychaetes (Maldane sarsi antarctica and Notomastus latericeus), exposed to the impact of glacial melting over a broad time scale, were used to evaluate the effect of glacial meltwater on their bioenergetic condition through the integrated analysis of: i) their biochemical composition; ii) fatty acid profiles and iii) total energy contents. The findings indicate that glacial meltwater has a direct effect on the bioenergetic condition of polychaetes. In areas where glacial meltwater has a significant impact, N. latericeus showed higher levels of proteins and glucose, but lower levels of lipids. On the other hand, M. sarsi antarctica exhibited decreased protein content with increasing glacial meltwater impact. M. sarsi antarctica presented varying levels of lipids across different sites, with the highest concentrations observed in areas with moderate impact. Both species showed a reduction in fatty acids with increasing glacial meltwater impact. Additionally, M. sarsi antarctica individuals from highly impacted areas had lower energy levels than those from less impacted areas, while N. latericeus had higher energy levels in the most impacted site. This information enables the development of a framework for assessing the impact of climate change using glacial meltwater and the integrated bioenergetics of key benthic polychaeta as a proxy. Therefore, identifying how glacial meltwater affects their bioenergetic condition helps us understand how climate change could affect trophic interactions, structure, and energy flows in the Antarctic marine food web.

Alexandrium catenella, one of the most common harmful microalgae observed in southern Chile, produces paralytic shellfish toxins, which can affect many organisms throughout the trophic chain. This research evaluated how paralytic shellfish toxins affected the principal bioenergetic constituents and fatty acids composition of the carnivorous snail Chorus giganteus. Snails were separated into a “toxic” group that was fed the toxic clam Mulinia edulis (which was previously fed A. catenella), and a “non-toxic” group, fed non-toxic clams. Both groups were kept under these conditions for 63 days. Our results indicated no difference in the ingestion rate of toxic versus non-toxic snails; however, a higher protein level was identified in toxic snails. The total lipid content proved to be no different in toxic versus non-toxic snails; although, an effect of the toxic diet on the fatty acid profile of C. giganteus was observed. High levels of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in toxic snails, were identified. Our results suggest that exposure to paralytic shellfish toxins, through diet, may cause changes in the biochemical composition of C. giganteus, which may have a subsequent impact on its energetic physiology.

Decapods have successfully colonized changing coastal habitats throughout the world by adapting their behavior, physiology, and biochemistry. Biochemical reserves, such as lipids and fatty acids (FAs), play fundamental roles in this adaptation process. These energy reserves are key for the development of decapods and their composition mainly depends on the type and quality of food available in their habitats. This study evaluated the lipid content and FA composition of three tissues (hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle) in two widely distributed, semi-terrestrial coastal crab species in Chile, Cyclograpsus cinereus from the upper intertidal and Hemigrapsus crenulatus from estuaries. This evaluation aimed to assess the physiological role of the bioenergetic reserves of these crabs, which tolerate fluctuating environmental conditions. Our results showed that both species had a higher lipid content in the hepatopancreas and a lower lipid content in its gills and muscle. All three of the evaluated tissues in C. cinereus showed high contents of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and its hepatopancreas displayed the highest contents of monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In turn, H. crenulatus had the highest contents of MUFAs and PUFAs in its gills and muscle tissues, including an important amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The FA content of C. cinereus may indicate an adaptive physiological response aimed at maintaining its cellular fluid balance during periods of desiccation in the upper intertidal zone. In contrast, the FAs found in H. crenulatus may be linked to the high activity of the sodium‑potassium pump in its gills, in order to maintain osmoregulation in estuaries.

The study of fatty acid biomarkers in trophic structures at sub-polar latitudes is fundamental in describing energy fluxes across ecosystems characterized by complex inter-specific interactions. Due to the presence of certain essential fatty acids obtained exclusively from predator–prey interactions, fatty acid biomarkers are widely used to identify trophic interactions. This study analyzed fatty acid compositions in three species inhabiting a relatively pristine Patagonian fjord. This fjord is geographically difficult to access, so there are very little sampling opportunities, biological and oceanographic information. In the three species collected (Ctenodiscus australis (Loven in Lütken 1871) (Echinodermata, Asteroidea, Ctenodiscidae); Munida gregaria (Fabricius 1793) (Arthropoda, Malacostraca, Munididae); Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier 1830) (Chordata, Actinopterygii, Eleginopsidae)) along this remote area were evaluated their fatty acid trophic markers as a tool to differentiate dietary components and dietary habits. The study reported significant differences in the amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with the highest concentrations of all fatty acids in M. gregaria. The last suggests that M. gregaria is considered as a good quality food source or biological component that might support the fjord trophic web in the Southern Hemisphere. The results describe diet compositions in sampled species, and differences among species for fatty acid compositions and proportions. This provides an initial basis for future modeling or projecting how benthic ecosystems of fjords and Patagonian channels respond to food intake, particularly in environments associated with glacial systems characterized by a low phytoplankton biomass and greater sensitivity to climate variability.

Changes in environmental conditions play an important role in essential biological processes such as reproduction, which is partially driven by an organism’s diet. Here, we evaluate spatio-temporal variations in the bioenergetic reserves (lipids and fatty acids) of the fishery resource Concholepas concholepas (Loco), a prominent benthic carnivorous gastropod. We used data from summer (January) and winter (July) from two coastal localities that shown contrasting environmental conditions in central Chile (Quintay and Las Cruces). The results indicate that there is a correlation between the fatty acid profiles and the interactions between seasonality and locality. This was particularly evident among the fatty acid concentrations of docosahexaenoic (DHA, C22:6n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, C20:5n-3) and arachidonic (ARA, C20:4n-6) acids, which were high in winter, in both localities. Contrastingly, palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) acids were present among all comparisons at stable concentrations. These findings suggest an influence of environmental conditions on the availability and quality of the prey of C. concholepas, in both localities. Moreover, the high concentration of essential fatty acids during winter, could suggest an adaptive physiological response, to ensure reproductive success. This knowledge is indispensable to improve regulatory measures for the extraction periods of marine resources, towards a more sustainable fishery, in the Humboldt Current System.

Environmental variables are pivotal factors for the condition of marine invertebrate species with a complex life cycle, influencing larval biochemical composition, and therefore, indirectly affecting later benthic stages. We herein explore the physiological responses of the fishery resource the red squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon) under contrasting environmental conditions of seawater surface temperature and planktonic food availability in the Humboldt Current System (HCS), through the analysis of larval condition and its consequences in the HCS. Larval condition was measured as dry weight, biochemical composition and fatty acids profile at hatching during ‘late summer’ (i.e. March) and ‘early winter’ (i.e. June). Larvae hatching from larger eggs produced in winter months showed a higher size, dry weight and a higher content of bioenergetic fuel (i.e. lipids and essential fatty acids) compared to those from larvae hatching in summer months. Temperature and food availability can to be key driving factors favouring an evolution of temporal variability in larval condition of the red squat lobster. These physiological adaptations provide an extension of the reproductive period of P. monodon, specifically planktonic larval development during ‘early winter’, characterized by a period with restricted food availability and lower temperatures than ‘late summer’.