Effects of dietary fatty acid composition and salinity on copepod reproduction in a eutrophic estuary
Effects of dietary fatty acid composition and salinity on copepod reproduction in a eutrophic estuary
Estuarine ecosystems are critical for fisheries and biodiversity, with copepods serving as essential trophic links. Accurate prediction of copepod reproductive success, measured via egg production rate (EPR), is vital for ecosystem management. Traditional monitoring relies on biomass indicators like chlorophyll-a, but emerging evidence underscores the importance of dietary biochemical quality, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as indicators of dietary biochemical quality. This study, conducted during seasonal cruises in the Pearl River Estuary in May (spring), August (summer), and November (autumn) 2015, and January (winter) 2016, tested a hierarchical framework where PUFA availability is the primary regulator of EPR, modulated by environmental factors like salinity. Generalized Additive Models revealed that PUFA variability were the strongest predictor of EPR, exhibiting nonlinear responses that reflect complex nutritional trade-offs. Salinity influenced reproduction indirectly by shaping phytoplankton community composition and subsequent PUFA quality, rather than through direct physiological stress. In contrast, chlorophyll-a showed limited explanatory power. These findings advocate for a paradigm shift from biomass-based to mechanism-driven assessments, with the PUFA-salinity relationship serving as a sensitive diagnostic tool for early detection of ecosystem degradation. This framework enables proactive management before population declines manifest and has implications for sustainable fisheries. Future research should validate causal links through controlled experiments and develop cost-effective PUFA monitoring methods.
Copepod reproduction, Pearl River Estuary, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Salinity effect
Chen, Mianrun
9dc47a98-b2bf-4b29-9b0b-cdc149295af3
Chen, Qi
a2ccf860-ff19-4015-a08d-3de9690bee60
Si, Yueyue
da0cbb1d-cec8-426a-b537-4c7d4e2c1ef0
Liu, Zhiwei
2cccd24d-8826-49ea-8884-862a0bcf6e10
Xu, Zhuo
c8569454-4be3-479f-8f06-9d41035cf282
Luo, Dingyu
1917c81d-cef4-4b75-85ef-500b7b951f44
Sun, Xian
33cb55d3-22e2-4d4b-953f-8593b159c1d6
13 March 2026
Chen, Mianrun
9dc47a98-b2bf-4b29-9b0b-cdc149295af3
Chen, Qi
a2ccf860-ff19-4015-a08d-3de9690bee60
Si, Yueyue
da0cbb1d-cec8-426a-b537-4c7d4e2c1ef0
Liu, Zhiwei
2cccd24d-8826-49ea-8884-862a0bcf6e10
Xu, Zhuo
c8569454-4be3-479f-8f06-9d41035cf282
Luo, Dingyu
1917c81d-cef4-4b75-85ef-500b7b951f44
Sun, Xian
33cb55d3-22e2-4d4b-953f-8593b159c1d6
Chen, Mianrun, Chen, Qi, Si, Yueyue, Liu, Zhiwei, Xu, Zhuo, Luo, Dingyu and Sun, Xian
(2026)
Effects of dietary fatty acid composition and salinity on copepod reproduction in a eutrophic estuary.
Global Ecology and Conservation, 67, [e04154].
(doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04154).
Abstract
Estuarine ecosystems are critical for fisheries and biodiversity, with copepods serving as essential trophic links. Accurate prediction of copepod reproductive success, measured via egg production rate (EPR), is vital for ecosystem management. Traditional monitoring relies on biomass indicators like chlorophyll-a, but emerging evidence underscores the importance of dietary biochemical quality, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as indicators of dietary biochemical quality. This study, conducted during seasonal cruises in the Pearl River Estuary in May (spring), August (summer), and November (autumn) 2015, and January (winter) 2016, tested a hierarchical framework where PUFA availability is the primary regulator of EPR, modulated by environmental factors like salinity. Generalized Additive Models revealed that PUFA variability were the strongest predictor of EPR, exhibiting nonlinear responses that reflect complex nutritional trade-offs. Salinity influenced reproduction indirectly by shaping phytoplankton community composition and subsequent PUFA quality, rather than through direct physiological stress. In contrast, chlorophyll-a showed limited explanatory power. These findings advocate for a paradigm shift from biomass-based to mechanism-driven assessments, with the PUFA-salinity relationship serving as a sensitive diagnostic tool for early detection of ecosystem degradation. This framework enables proactive management before population declines manifest and has implications for sustainable fisheries. Future research should validate causal links through controlled experiments and develop cost-effective PUFA monitoring methods.
Text
1-s2.0-S2351989426001034-main
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Accepted/In Press date: 5 March 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 March 2026
Published date: 13 March 2026
Keywords:
Copepod reproduction, Pearl River Estuary, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Salinity effect
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 511122
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511122
PURE UUID: 76603e8d-eee0-4b5f-ad37-0a0001391a27
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Date deposited: 05 May 2026 16:39
Last modified: 06 May 2026 02:06
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Contributors
Author:
Mianrun Chen
Author:
Qi Chen
Author:
Yueyue Si
Author:
Zhiwei Liu
Author:
Zhuo Xu
Author:
Dingyu Luo
Author:
Xian Sun
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