Determination of seasonal variations of total fatty acids composition of Cyprinus carpio (L. 1758, Cyprinidae) living in Örenler Dam Lake

ABSTRACTM. Sc. ThesisDETERMINATION OF SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF TOTAL FATTY ACIDSCOMPOSITION OF Cyprinus carpio (L. 1758, CYPRINIDAE) LIVING INÖRENLER DAM LAKEMehmet KARAÇALIAfyon Kocatepe UniversityGraduate School of Natural and Applied SciencesSupervisor: Assist. Prof. Sait BULUTIn this study, seasonal variation of fatty acid levels in muscle, liver and ovary tissues of Cyprinus carpiowas investigated. C. carpio samples have been obtained from Örenler Dam Lake in three-month periodsbetween August 2005 and 2006. Fatty acid compositions have been determined in muscle, ovary and livertissues of fish by gas chromatography using a mixture of fatty acid standards.In all tissues, significant variations have been varied in fatty acid percentages among the seasons.Particularly, summer season rates have been found significantly (p<0.05) different as compared to theother seasons. According to the gas chromatography results, following saturated fatty acids: myristic acid(C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and arachidic acid (C20:0); monounsaturated fattyacids: myristoleic acid (C14:1), pentadecenoic acid (C15:1), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), heptadecenoic acid(C17:1), oleic acid (C18:1); and polyunsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid (C18:2ω6), γ-linolenic acid(C18:3ω6) linolenic acid (C18:3ω3), eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3ω3), arachidonic acid (C20:4ω6),eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoik acid (C22:6 ω3) were higher than the other fattyacids.It was concluded that seasonal variations in fatty acid percentages of muscle, liver and ovary tissues of C.carpio could be influenced by ecological and physiological factors.2007-101Keywords: Örenler Dam Lake, Cyprinus carpio, fatty acids ,mirror carp, Turkey.iv