Seasonal and Sexual Variations of Total Protein, Fat and Fatty Acid Composition of an Endemic Freshwater Fish Species (Capoeta antalyensis)

Abstract

In this study, the total protein and lipid contents and fatty acid composition of endemic freshwater fish Capoeta antalyensis was investigated according to the variation in seasons and gender. Total protein content (%) of C. antalyensis varied from 63.80% to 78.15% and total fat content from 4.57% to 21.29% in different seasons. The palmitic, stearic, palmitoleic, oleic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were the most abundant fatty acids in the muscles of C. antalyensis. The ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in muscles of both genders was higher in spring and autumn, while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratio was higher in winter. The ratio of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3 PUFAs) content in the muscles reached the highest level in spring in males and in summer in females. The ratios of n-3 PUFAs to omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n6 PUFAs) in muscles of C. antalyensis of both genders changed from 3.29 to 5.44 as the seasons changed. Total fat and fatty acid contents were found to be at the lowest level in both genders during winter. This shows that nutritional content of C. antalyensis species is quite affected by variation in seasonal conditions.