Lipid composition measurements in Gammarids
Lipid composition measurements in Gammarids
Samenvatting
Daily life is greatly influenced by fossil fuels. New technological inventions and the reduction of the ice coverage due to climate change makes it possible for humans to be present and undertake activities, such as gathering oil in previously inaccessible areas like the North Pole (Sagerup, Nahrgang, Frantzen, Larsen, & Geraudie, 2016). However, oil drilling goes alongside a few dangers. When a spill is caused oil will discharge into the Arctic waters where it will present itself as toxic towards aquatic organisms. Because of low temperatures and extreme seasonality the polar regions have a low ecological recovery rate. The effect of temperature on the acute toxicity of marine fuel oil with type DMA has already been tested on the amphipod species G. locusta & G. setosus. This research showed that the Arctic amphipod species G. setosus has a lower sensitivity to marine fuel oil than the temperate G. locusta. It is suspected that this lower sensitivity has something to do with a difference in lipid concentration and/or composition. Another study showed the possibility of using medical test kits to determine lipid composition in marine invertebrates. These test kits are normally used for researching the blood or tissue of mammals but if possible to use on marine invertebrates, the test kits can save time as well as money. This research will therefore also investigate the use and profitability of the medical test kits. Two test kits were tested. These test kits were the phosphatidylcholine - and triglyceride colorimetric assay kits. These two kits were chosen because according to literature the Gammarus sp. would show the biggest differences within these lipid classes. When researched the arctic species contained more lipid in total and also a higher triglyceride content, the differences in phosphatidylcholine content are small. There can be concluded that the higher total lipid content and/or the higher triglyceride content in the Arctic G. setosus explains the increase in oil toxicity, however it shows a possible answer which needs more research which can be done by using medical test kits.
Organisatie | HZ University of Applied Sciences |
Opleiding | Watermanagement/ Aquatische Ecotechnologie |
Afdeling | Domein Technology, Water & Environment |
Partner | Wageningen Marine Research, Yerseke |
Datum | 2018-01-30 |
Type | Bachelor |
Taal | Engels |