Abstract:
Fatty acid compositions in the tissues of the gastropoda Tefescopium
tefescopium and Brotia binodasa collected from Setiu wetland were compared with
those organic particle in sediment in order to assess the gastropoda diet. In both
species, the suspended mangrove detritus was high as indicated by the mean
percentage of Palmatic acid ( 16:0), Heptadecanoic acid (17:0) The contribution of
this marker in the Tefescopium telescopium and Brotia binodasa are 41 % and 4 7%
respectively of total fatty acid concentration. SEM (Scanning electron microscope)
analysis of sediment also shows that organic matter such as pyrite framboid occur in
great amount in both station. These results indicate that mangrove detritus play a
significant role in the gastropoda diet. The mean concentration of diatoms markers
Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ro3) in both gastropoda tissues ranged from 0.6744 µg g-
1
and 2.7259 µg g-
1
suggested that diatoms contribute significantly to gastropoda diet
beside detritus. SEM analyses also indicate the abundant of diatoms in the sediment of
the gastropoda.
