Origin of Marine Fatty Acids. I. Analyses of the Fatty Acids Produced by the DiatomSkeletonema costatum

Abstract
Analysis of the fatty acid composition of a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum, shows that the longer-chain highly unsaturated fatty acids characteristic of fish lipids can be produced by some phytoplankton as well as through intermediary zooplankton. Comparison of cultures of various degrees of maturity indicates that the fatty acid composition of mature cultures in laboratory experiments is not necessarily typical of pelagic diatoms. The origin of atypical C16-polyunsaturated fatty acids is discussed.