Mercedes Vera Piombo, Marisa Avaro, Augusto Crespi-Abril, Tamara Rubilar

The composition of fatty acids in female gametes of Arbacia dufresnii (Arbaciidae: arbacioida) in the population of Bahía Norte, Nuevo gulf indicates good nutritional conditions

Introduction

The composition of fatty acids in female gametes of arbacia dufresnii (arbaciidae: arbacioida) in the population of bahía norte, nuevo gulf indicates good nutritional conditions. Fatty acid profiles of Arbacia dufresnii female gametes in Bahía Norte, Nuevo Gulf, indicate excellent nutritional status and a high-quality, omnivorous diet. A key bioindicator.

Abstract

Here we study the population of Arbacia dufresnii in two locations within Nuevo Gulf (Bahía Norte and Punta Cuevas), Argentina, focusing on their size, density, and nutritional status through fatty acid (FA) profiles. Sea urchins were collected by scuba diving, analysing 4000 individuals over an entire year. The results showed that sea urchins in Bahía Norte are larger but less dense than those in Punta Cuevas. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) were predominant in Bahía Norte, indicating a diet rich in high-quality nutrients. A. dufresnii showed an omnivorous diet with a tendency towards carnivory in Bahía Norte. Additionally, significant differences in trophic markers were found between both locations, suggesting variations in food availability and quality. A. dufresnii proved to be an excellent bioindicator, reflecting environmental and nutritional changes in its FA profiles.

Review

This study presents a thorough and methodologically sound investigation into the population dynamics and nutritional ecology of *Arbacia dufresnii* in the Nuevo Gulf, Argentina. The authors' comprehensive approach, involving the analysis of 4000 individuals collected over a full year from two distinct locations, significantly strengthens the robustness of their findings. The use of fatty acid (FA) profiles as a primary metric for assessing nutritional status and dietary patterns is a well-established and powerful technique, providing valuable insights into the ecological health of marine invertebrates. The comparative analysis between Bahía Norte and Punta Cuevas effectively highlights spatial variations in environmental conditions and their direct impact on sea urchin populations. The results reveal intriguing differences, notably the larger size but lower density of *A. dufresnii* in Bahía Norte, correlating with a dominance of polyunsaturated (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). This FA profile strongly supports the authors' conclusion, as stated in the title, that these individuals exhibit good nutritional conditions, likely stemming from a diet rich in high-quality nutrients. The identification of an omnivorous diet with a tendency towards carnivory in Bahía Norte, alongside significant trophic marker variations between locations, underscores the plasticity of *A. dufresnii*'s feeding strategies in response to local food availability. However, a crucial point for clarification stems from the title's specific mention of "female gametes" versus the abstract's broader discussion of "sea urchins" and "their nutritional status." It is imperative for the authors to explicitly state whether the FA profiles were indeed exclusively derived from gametes, and if so, how these reflect the overall nutritional conditions of the adult organisms and contribute to their bioindicator potential. The study compellingly demonstrates *A. dufresnii*'s utility as an excellent bioindicator, effectively reflecting environmental and nutritional changes through its FA profiles. This finding has significant implications for ecological monitoring and understanding the health of coastal marine ecosystems. Future research could productively expand upon these findings by investigating the specific dietary components contributing to the observed FA profiles in each location, exploring the physiological and reproductive consequences of these nutritional differences, and assessing how these variations impact population dynamics and resilience. Overall, this paper offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of sea urchin ecology and the application of FA profiling in marine bioindication, provided the methodological clarity regarding tissue sampling is addressed.

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