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Changes In Tissue-Specific Fatty Acid Composition Of The Freshwater Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) In Response To Temperature, William D. Schregel

Biology Theses

Ectotherms are known to alter the composition of the cell membrane in response to changes in environmental temperature. Tissue-specific fatty acid composition in the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) was examined in response to both warm and cold temperature challenges administered over an approximate one month period. Gill, muscle, and liver tissues were analyzed prior to the start of the temperature challenge (initial), following the temperature challenges (survivors), and on those fish that did not survive the temperature challenges (mortalities). Significant differences were found between fatty acid composition of initial fish and survivors for membrane-incorporated fatty acids (polar) and for …