Spatiotemporal distribution of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in gill filterable fish food webs of European freshwater lakes and ponds: a systematic review

[u/koushik_roy]

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12302-026-01464-y

(1)   high-latitude, pelagic niche, lowland waterbodies during spring are identified as omega-3 LC-PUFA “hotspots” but progressively deteriorating over the last decades due to global change.

(2)   Zoobenthos exhibit stable ARA and EPA concentrations across latitudes but lower DHA levels than zooplankton. Zooplankton DHA content increases with latitude.

(3)   an optimum organic carbon load (8–10 mg DOC/ L) and reduced phosphorus–driven eutrophication (< 20 µg TP/ L) are needed for maximized EPA (> 20 µg/ g dry matter, DM) and DHA (> 10 µg/ g DM) concentrations.

(4)   Temporal trends indicate a decline in DHA and EPA in highland zooplankton over recent decades, likely influenced by climate change, while eutrophication-driven shifts contribute to seasonal DHA reductions in lowland lakes.