Characterization of phytoplankton species in oyster habitats in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Abstract

Phytoplankton is the base of marine food webs and all marine life depends on it for survival. This study identified phytoplankton species found in the water of the Bras d’Or Lake and in oyster gut contents using DNA sequencing and performed a fatty acid analysis of phytoplankton cultures to determine their nutritional value. Three locations in the Bras d’Or Lake and surrounding area were investigated between spring and fall to determine differences in phytoplankton composition. Nannochloris sp. was identified in water samples, oyster gut contents, and phytoplankton cultures which represents a species in the Bras d’Or Lake that can be grown as a food source for C. virginica and provides adequate essential fatty acids alongside other phytoplankton in the diet that contain nutrients it lacks. Continued monitoring of Bras d’Or Lake phytoplankton and its nutritional composition is essential to understand the environment and phytoplankton being ingested by oysters.