Effects of ocean acidification on fatty acid composition in the Antarctic snail Neobuccinum eatoni
Servetto, N.; De Troch, M.; Alurralde, G.; Ferrero, L.; de Aranzamendi, M.C.; Sahade, R. (2025). Effects of ocean acidification on fatty acid composition in the Antarctic snail Neobuccinum eatoni. Front. Mar. Sci. 12: 1645755. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1645755
Introduction: Ocean acidification (OA), resulting from the absorption of increasing atmospheric CO2 by the oceans, represents a major threat to marine organisms. Despite growing concern, the biochemical responses of Antarctic species to OA remain poorly understood. Methods: This study investigated the impact of OA (pH 7.70 ± 0.09) on the fatty acid (FA) composition of the Antarctic snail Neobuccinum eatoni over a two-month experimental period (December 2015–March 2016). Fatty acid profiles were analyzed in multiple tissues to assess potential alterations induced by low-pH (LpH) conditions. Results: Significant tissue-specific changes in FA composition were detected, particularly in the mantle and gill. Under LpH exposure, notable modifications occurred in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) such as 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, and 24:5n-6. Elevated LC-PUFA levels in the mantle suggested a compensatory response to oxidative stress, while shifts in the n-3/n-6 ratios in the gill pointed to potential alterations in immune and anti-inflammatory functions. Discussion: Indicators of homeoviscous adaptation (HVA), including PUFA/SFA ratios and mean chain length (MCL), revealed biochemical strategies used by N. eatoni to maintain membrane fluidity under acidified conditions. This study provides the first evidence of FA-based responses to elevated pCO₂ in an Antarctic gastropod, highlighting the potential of fatty acids as sensitive biomarkers of physiological adaptation to environmental stressors.
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