T FA profile. McMeans et al. [14] lately showed that FA profile of muscle inside the Greenland shark is the most representative of its prey FA profiles. It truly is therefore assumed right here that the muscle tissue of M. alfredi is representative of its eating plan, however the extent to which the FA profile in the subdermal connective tissue of R. typus reflects its diet program is unknown. Certain species of phytoplankton such as diatoms, and a few macro algae for instance Rhodophyta can biosynthesise n-6 PUFA, with levels of more than 40 (as wt ) of AA recorded [20, 21]. Although phytoplankton and macro algae have been reported in R. typus stomach contents, theyLipids (2013) 48:1029?Table 3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of chondrichthyan, planktivore, big pelagic and detrivore species P P Species Feeding habitat Tissue nn- AA EPA DHA 3 six Whale shark–R. typus (mol ) Whale shark–R. typus (wt ) Reef manta ray–M. alfredi (mol ) Reef manta ray–M. alfredi (wt ) Other chondrichthyes Port Jackson shark–Heterodontus portusjacksoni Sandy-backed stingaree–Urolophus bucculentus Southern chimaera–Chimaera fulva Angel shark–Squatina australis Longnose velvet dogfish–Centroselachus crepidater Shortnose spurdog–Squalus megalops South China catshark–Apristurus sinensis Broadnose sevengill shark–Notorynchus cepedianus Planktivores Leatherback turtle–Dermochelys coriacea Jellyfish–Aurelia sp. Finwhale–Balaenoptera physalus Anchovies–Engraulis mordax mordax Significant pelagics Dolphin–mixed species Gray whale–E. robustus Ocean sunfish–Mola mola Benthic feeders Sea cucumber–Holothuria scabra Sea urchin–Heliocidaris erythrogramma Dusky SFRP2, Human (HEK293, His) rabbitfish–Siganus nebulosus Protease Inhibitor Cocktail ProtocolDocumentation Benthic–deposit feeder Benthic–deposit feeder Benthic–deposit feeder Whole Complete Muscle ten.7 ten.7 18.5 22.6 14.6 20.5 19.1 six.1 12.four eight.two 8.3 1.three 1.5 0.4 14.six Epipelagic– carnivore Pelagic–planktivore Pelagic–carnivore Muscle Muscle Muscle 29.4 10.8 16.three 18.six 14.2 four.7 7.73 six.4 7.five 8.eight 7.6 1.two 17.0 Epipelagic– planktivore Epipelagic– planktivore Pelagic–planktivore Pelagic–planktivore Muscle Whole Blubber oil Entire 15.5 34.five 6.7 22.9 17.three 12.2 two.three four.9 15.five 9.9 0.3 0.4 six.1 14.1 1.eight 13.five 5.7 9.8 two.74 eight.8 Demersal–carnivore Demersal–carnivore Deep sea–carnivore Demersal–carnivore Deep sea–carnivore Deep sea–carnivore Deep sea–carnivore Deep sea–carnivore Muscle Muscle Muscle Muscle Muscle Muscle Muscle Liver 23.six 32.9 30.four 45.2 39.1 37.five 38.5 23.2 19.4 16.5 11.2 10.5 6.six 6.4 six.4 3.2 13.eight 12.6 four.7 7.six 4.4 three.6 3.four 1.7 three.7 3.1 3.4 6.1 two.three 1.2 two.9 3.four 15.4 27.9 23.3 36.five 32.2 32.3 28.9 16.6 Epipelagic– planktivore Epipelagic– planktivore Epipelagic– planktivore Epipelagic– planktivore Skin Skin Muscle Muscle six.1 six.7 13.4 14.9 23.eight 25.four 21.0 21.6 16.9 17.eight 11.7 11.8 1.1 1.two 1.two 1.two two.5 two.8 ten.0 11.n-3/n6 0.3 0.three 0.7 0.Reference This study This study This study This study [45] [45] [46] [45] [46] [46] [46] [46]1.two 2.0 2.7 4.three five.9 five.9 six 7.0.9 two.8 2.9 27.8 0.9 1.8 two.7 0.5 0.7 0.[17] [25] [47] [48] [18] [49] [50] [19] [19] [19]Data from this study for Rhincodon typus and Manta alfredi are expressed in each mol and wt format, with all literature information as wt EPA eicosapentaenoic acid, DHA docosahexaenoic acid, AA arachidonic acidare assumed to become incidentally ingested [22]. The feeding apparatus and feeding method of R. typus and M. alfredi are adapted for targeting larger prey [23, 24]. There’s no observational evidence of either species targeting phytoplankton, but there are actually frequent observations o.