Fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerols of the cypris larva of the barnacle Balanus balanoides during metamorphosis

In the free-swimming cypris larva of Balanus balanoides, the mean level of triacylglycerols (triglycerides) was 8% of the ash-free dry weight. During metamorphosis into the juvenile barnacle, the triacylglycerol level in the newly settled non-feeding cypris larva fell to a mean of 2% of the ash-free dry weight. The ratio of fatty acids in the triacylglycerols remained constant throughout metamorphosis, indicating that all species of fatty acids were used as energy sources. There was no evidence for the selective utilisation of particular fatty acids.