Jf. Cavaletto et al., SEASONAL-VARIATION OF LIPID-COMPOSITION WEIGHT, AND LENGTH IN JUVENILE DIPOREIA SPP (AMPHIPODA) FROM LAKES MICHIGAN AND ONTARIO, Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences, 53(9), 1996, pp. 2044-2051
Benthic amphipods, Diporeia spp., were collected during 1988 and 1989
at four sites to compare size and Lipid levels of animals living in La
kes Michigan and Ontario: sites were at depths of 45 and 100 m in Lake
Michigan and 35 and 125 m in Lake Ontario. In Lake Michigan, the mean
length, mass, and Lipid levels of individual Diporeia from 45 m were
significantly different from those collected from 100 m in 1988, in 19
89, only mass and Lipid levels were significantly different between de
pths. In contrast, regardless of the year, the Lake Ontario Diporeia f
rom 35 m were similar in mass and length to those from 125 m, but lipi
d levels were significantly different between depths. Combined means f
or total lipid for each lake over similar months revealed higher level
s in Lake Ontario than in Lake Michigan Diporeia. Triacylglycerols wer
e the dominant Lipid class in all the amphipods, with mean levels reac
hing a maximum of 84% of the total lipid in individuals from Lake Onta
rio at 35 m. Trophic state, food-web, and (or) genetic differences are
probably responsible for the occurrence of higher lipid levels in Lak
e Ontario Diporeia than in Lake Michigan Diporeia.