The contents of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin esters were studied
in natural populations of the copepod Acartia bifilosa from the Pomeranian Bay
and Gulf of Gdańsk in the southern Baltic Sea. Samples dominated by any one of
three developmental groups: (1) nauplii, (2) copepodids I–III and (3) copepodids
IV–V and adults of Acartia bifilosa were analysed by means of high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC). As ontogenetic development progressed, significant
changes occurred in the proportion of particular pigments in the total pigment pool
of the various developmental groups. Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin occurred
in all the groups, the former being clearly dominant. However, an increasing
percentage of astaxanthin esters was recorded in the copepodids I–III, and even
more in the copepodids IV–V and adults group. Most probably, astaxanthin is
the main pigment active in copepod lipid metabolism. Carotenoid pigments in
copepods very likely act as efficient free-electron quenchers and may be involved as
antioxidants in rapid lipid metabolism. The exogenously feeding stages (late nauplii
and copepodids) transform plant carotenoids taken from food and are evidently capable of metabolising astaxanthin by esterification and further degradation. It
is emphasised that, according to literature data, astaxanthin esters may have
an even higher quenching ability. It is suggested that crustacean carotenoid
pigments, with their electron donor-acceptor abilities, may replace oxygen in
peroxidation processes connected with lipid metabolism. The consequences of such
a physiological role of astaxanthin for present-day estimations of energy balances
in zooplankton communities are mentioned.
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