Browsing by Author "Comeau, Lauren"

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    Identifying a Non-Lethal Fatty Acid Sampling Method in Fish
    (University of New Brunswick, 2025-05) Comeau, Lauren
    Fatty acid profiling is crucial for understanding fish health and diet.This study evaluates the potential of fish fin tissues as non-lethal alternatives to muscle tissue for fatty acid profiling. Lipid extractions from muscle, adipose fin, inner-caudal, and outer-caudal tissues were analyzed using gas chromatography. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Euclidean distance analyses revealed a strong similarity between adipose and muscle tissue. Inner-caudal tissue showed a strong correlation with muscle, with moderate intra-fin variability. Outer-caudal tissue exhibited the most distinct fatty acid profile and high intra-fin composition variability, suggesting it provides a useful alternative. This study demonstrates that adipose fin tissue provides a reliable non-lethal alternative for fatty acid profiling in fish, given its strong correlation with muscle tissue, minimal variation, and consistency in fatty acid composition and concentration. Non-lethal fatty acid sampling methods support ecological research and conservation efforts, laying the foundation for more sustainable fish health and dietary studies.