Protein, carbohydrate, lipid concentrations and HSP 70–HSP 90 (stress protein) expression over an annual cycle: useful tools to detect feeding constraints in a benthic suspension feeder

11 pages, 7 figures, 2 tablesIn the present paper we suggest an effect of seasonal variations in food availability on two ecophysiological parameters in a warm temperate benthic suspension feeder: the tissue concentrations of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids on the one hand, and the expression of stress proteins (HSP 70 and 90, inducible and/or constitutive) on the other hand. The concentrations of biomacromolecules have already been used to describe bentho-pelagic and reproductive processes, but this is the first time that stress protein expression is suggested to be directly related with food constraints in marine organisms. Paramuricea clavata (Cnidaria: Gorgonacea) express HSP 70 and 90 (constitutive and/or inducible) throughout the seasonal cycle, and HSP 70 levels are twice as high as the levels of HSP 90. In summer and autumn, when seston availability to suspension feeders was low, P. clavata showed low levels of carbohydrates and lipids, but high levels of HSPs expression. The levels of HSP 70 and 90 expression fit with negative exponential functions of carbohydrate and lipid concentrations. We suggest a direct effect of food availability on the studied ecophysiological parameters while the effect of temperature may be rather indirect. HSP expression as well as the tissue concentrations of carbohydrate and lipids may be used as biomarkers of environmental changes and seston availability to benthic suspension feedersFunding for this work was provided by F.P.I. fellowship from Spain’s Ministry of Education and Science to SR under projects DGICYT 1995–1998, PB94-0014-C02-01, and by the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce (grant#NAO6RGO142, project# R/CZ-168)Peer reviewe