Cultivation of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis (Müller, 1786) with different microalgae species and formulated feed

Abstract

The present study with two experiments evaluated the Brachionus plicatilis rotifer culture through population density, growth and reproductive rate and egg production. The experiment one was carried out with three microalgae species: Chaetoceros calcitrans, in density of 2.5 x 104 cells.mL-1, and Isochrysis galbana and Nannochloropsis sp., in density of 5 x 104 cells.mL-1 for both species. There was not statistically-signifi cant difference between treatments with the microalgae species so that microalgae I. galbana was shown to be more effi cient in rotifer culture. In experiment two, with formulated feed Culture Selco®Plus (CSP), the initial rotifer densities were 250, 150 e 50 rotifers.mL-1, treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The highest fi nal density (mean 122 rotifers. mL-1) was recorded when the initial density was 250 rotifers.mL-1 (p<0.05). In treatment 3, the rate of population growth rate and duplication received positive values (0.110.09). The rate was higher at 0.25 reproductive treatments 2 and 3. Mean values of ammonia at the end of experiment 2 were lower than those recommended by literature. The initial densities of rotifers in the culture infl uence in population density and rates of growth and reproduction of rotifers B. plicatilis fed CSP.