Seasonal variations in the fatty acid profiles of the liver and muscle of Squalius cephalus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) living in Tödürge Lake (Sivas, Turkiye)

In this study, seasonal variations in the fatty acid profiles of the liver and muscle of Squalius cephalus</em> from Tödürge Lake were determined by Gas Chromatography (GC). C22:6 n-3, C20:5 n-3, C20:4 n-6, C18:1 n-9, C18:1 n-7, C16:1 n-7, C18:0 and C16:0 were the principal fatty acids showing the highest levels in the muscle and liver of Squalius cephalus</em> in all seasons. Although C22:6 n-3, which is regarded as the most important polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), were found to be high in the spring (17.37%) and summer (20.45%) in the liver, the percentages of this acid changed between 15.10% (winter) and 17.77% (spring) in the muscle. In all seasons, total unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated plus monounsaturated fatty acids) of the muscle tissue were found to be between 60-70%. Based on these results, S. cephalus</em> is a good food resource in terms of feeding with unsaturated fatty acids in all seasons, especially C22:6 n-3.