Fish‐processing wastes as an alternative diet for culturing the minute rotifer Proales similis de Beauchamp

We evaluated the suitability of fish waste diet (FWD) for culturing the minute rotifer Proales similis through the observation of their population growth and particle size selective feeding. A total of five treatments either with Nannochloropsis oculata or FWD (0.75 and 0.50 g/L) or the combination of N. oculata and FWD were set up in triplicates. P. similis were cultured in diluted natural seawater (8 g/L salinity) and 26 ± 1°C with the diet treatments being applied randomly. We daily monitored the rotifer density, the number of bacteria and the water quality in all the cultures. The population density of P. similis increased exponentially in all treatments, while the mean growth in FWD 0.75 g/L was significantly higher (p < .05) than that in the control. Addition of N. oculata to FWD resulted to lowered P. similis population growth. Bacterial colony count was high in FWD and introduction of P. similis to the diet decreased their density. The estimated bacteria ingestion rates were generally in the range of 6.03 × 10²–1.24 × 10⁴ bacteria/rotifer/hr and there was a positive linear relationship between bacterivory and rotifer population growth. We also observed a shift in the particle size distribution with a reduction in the frequency and concentration of small‐sized particles (<2.5 μm) at day 6. These results accentuate the potential of fish‐processing waste as diet for culturing P. similis which feeds on bacteria and small particles (≤2.5 μm) that are by‐products of degradation of this diet.     

Enhancing rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus population growth with commercial probiotics

The effect of a commercial probiotic (NanoCrusta, Altacrusta, Mexico City, Mexico) on the growth performance of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, 1766, was evaluated. In a first approach, probiotics were supplied in four densities (2.0 × 10³, 1.1 × 10⁵, 2.1 × 10⁵ and 2.1 × 10⁶ cells/ml), alone and in combination with Chlorella vulgaris (1 × 10⁶ cells/ml). The test rotifer did not grow on the probiotic alone. However, when probiotics + C. vulgaris were added, the maximum densities (D_max; ind/ml) and population growth rates (r) observed were higher. In the second experiment, probiotics were supplied at five higher densities (2.1 × 10⁶, 4.2 × 10⁶, 8.5 × 10⁶, 1.7 × 10⁷ and 3.4 × 10⁷ cells/ml) with C. vulgaris and a control treatment with only C. vulgaris (probiotic‐free). Treatments supplied with probiotics between 2.1 × 10⁶ and 1.7 × 10⁷ cells/ml showed significantly higher D_max and r than the control treatment. The results showed a positive effect of probiotic bacteria when supplied with C. vulgaris. The best outcome showed a D_max 2.16 times and an r 1.63 times higher than the density of the control treatment. Growth rates were higher in the treatments with probiotics compared to the control. We conclude that application of NanoCrusta is feasible to improve B. calyciflorus production, but the effects need to be tested in larger scales.     

Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on growth,survival and swim bladder inflation of larval amberjack ( Seriola dumerili, Risso)

The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the growth performance, survival and swim bladder inflation of larval Seriola dumerili during the rotifer feeding period was investigated in two feeding experiments. Amberjack larvae at 3 day post hatching were fed rotifers enriched with (1) freshwater C hlorella (Chlo), (2) a mixture (2:1, v/v) of Chlo and DHA‐enriched C hlorella (DHA‐Chlo), (3) DHA‐Chlo and (4) DHA‐Chlo and commercial DHA emulsion, in triplicate for 7 days. The average DHA contents of the rotifers were 0.0, 0.4, 1.0 and 1.9 mg g^?1 DM respectively. The survival rate was improved by the enrichment of rotifers with DHA‐Chlo alone, and DHA‐Chlo and emulsion. Growth and swim bladder inflation of fish fed rotifers enriched with DHA‐Chlo were significantly (P < 0.05) improved, however, with increased levels of DHA further improvement was not found. DHA content in the larval whole body proportionally increased with the DHA level in the rotifers. These results suggest that DHA enrichment of rotifers is effective to improve the growth, survival rate and swim bladder inflation of amberjack larvae. The DHA requirement of amberjack larvae is estimated to be 1.5 mg g^?1 on a dry matter basis of rotifers.     

不同溶剂及配比对轮虫脂肪提取的影响

研究了提取溶剂、次数以及溶剂的配比对轮虫脂肪提取的影响。分别用氯仿甲醇体积比为2:1、1:1、1:2,苯石油醚体积比2:1、1:1、1:2,丙酮石油醚1:4、3:7、2:3作为提取溶剂,提取冻干轮虫(Brachionus rotundiformis)样品脂肪,测定脂肪含量与皂化值,筛选得出3种提取溶剂的最佳配比;比较提取次数为1～3次间脂肪含量的差异,得出最佳提取次数;将3种最佳配比与索氏提取法(国标)提取样品脂肪进行比较,测定脂肪含量与皂化值。结果显示,在冻干轮虫脂肪提取中,提取次数对样品脂肪含量没产生显著影响(P>0.05);3种溶剂的最佳配比分别为氯仿甲醇2:1、苯石油醚1:2、丙酮石油醚2:3;其中丙酮石油醚2:3处理组的脂肪含量和皂化值分别达到9.71%和198,均显著高于索氏提取法(国标)和其余处理组(P<0.05)。故轮虫脂肪提取1次为宜,最佳溶剂及配比为丙酮石油醚体积比2:3,本方法具有提取高、时间短、安全性高、成本低等优点,具有一定的实际应用价值。     

Mass Production of Freshwater Rotifer,Brachionus calyciflorus,Under Different Diets and Regimes

ABSTRACT

The production ability of freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, cultured with two algal species, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina platensis, and a baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were studied using semicontinuous culture method. B. calyciflorus was fed with the above three types of food at five different concentrations (125, 250, 500,750, and 1,000 μg/mL). Among the three different types of diet, maximum production of B. calyciflorus (489.20 ±10.91 individuals/mL; P < 0.05) was obtained with C. vulgaris, followed by S. cerevisiae, and S. platensis. Moreover, in each of the three diets, the maximum rotifer production was obtained at a particular concentration (C. vulgaris, 750 μg/mL; S. cerevisiae, 750 μg/mL; and S. platensis, 500 μg/mL) beyond which the rotifer production decreased. The peak production due to C. vulgaris (489 individuals/mL) was better than S. cerevisiae (321 individuals/mL) when the number of rotifers was considered. The present study indicates that the quantity and quality of food have a significant role on the rotifer production and that C. vulgaris at 750 μg/mL appears suitable to feed to rotifers for maximal production.     

Use of flubendazole as a therapeutic agent against rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) in intensive cultures of the harpacticoid copepod Tisbe holothuriae

Copepods are well known to be the optimal live feed for most species of marine fish larvae. Still copepods are rarely used in marine hatcheries worldwide. Lack of efficient production techniques are among the reasons for this. Consequently, Artemia and rotifers are utilized in commercial settings. One problem in intensive production of copepods is contamination with rotifers. Rotifers have higher growth rates than copepods and consequently will compete out the copepods when accidentally introduced to the copepod production systems. Once contamination has occurred, the only cure has been to shut down production and subsequently use a therapeutic agent to eliminate all zooplankton in the system before restart with a stock culture free of rotifers. We tested flubendazole as a mean of controlling rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) in intensive laboratory cultures of the harpacticoid copepod (Tisbe holothuria). Flubendazole was lethal to rotifers in concentrations as low as 0.05 mg L^?1. There was no significant effect on the concentration of copepods, even at the highest concentration tested, i.e. 5.0 mg L^?1 flubendazole. We conclude that flubendazole is an effective drug for control of B. plicatilis in T. holothuriae batch cultures.     

阳澄湖养蟹网围内外轮虫群落结构的变化及分析

2008年6月至2009年5月对阳澄湖养蟹网围及湖区3组对照点中轮虫群落结构及部分水质特征参数进行调查,分析了轮虫群落结构与环境变量的关系,利用多种参数对其水质进行评价。经鉴定,共采集到轮虫83种,隶属于12科30属。研究表明,网围内3个采样点的年平均生物密度及生物量低于湖区3个采样点,生物密度与水温呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。不同月份受不同环境变量的影响,除4月份外,环境变量对生物密度的影响在采样点之间无差异。相似度分析表明,网围内及相邻湖区的轮虫优势种相似性高。水质分析表明,6个采样点均为富营养化、β-α中污染水体,东湖网围C₁和中湖网围A₁2采样点程度稍轻,但6个采样点之间无显著性差异,这与用卡尔森营养状态指数得出的结果相似。     

A comparison among differently enriched rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and their effect on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae early growth, survival and lipid composition

We evaluated the effect of differently enriched rotifers on the early growth, survival and lipid composition of Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua). The enrichments tested were: (i) AlgaMac 2000^®; (ii) AquaGrow^® Advantage; and (iii) a combination of Pavlova sp. paste and AlgaMac 2000^®. Larvae from treatment 3 [1.50 ± 0.11 mg dry weight (dw) and 7.10 ± 0.14 dw specific growth rate (SGR)] were heavier (P = 0.006) and grew faster (P = 0.004) than larvae from treatment 2 (1.03 ± 0.04 mg dw and 6.29 ± 0.04 dw SGR). No significant differences were found in the final weight and SGR among larvae from treatment 1 (1.21 ± 0.07 mg dw and 6.58 ± 0.20 dw SGR) and larvae from treatments 2 and 3. The treatment 3 also resulted in the best survival at the end of the experimental period, estimated to be 3 on a scale from 1 to 5, whereas the survival estimates for the two other groups were 1–2. Larvae from the treatment 3 reached 37 days posthatch with levels of ω6DPA 32‐fold higher than newly hatched larvae. Differences in the larval enrichment of ω6DPA may explain the differences in growth and survival of the Atlantic cod larvae.     

三峡水库小江回水区原生动物和轮虫群落结构特征及其与环境因子关系初步研究

2008年春、夏、秋和水华发生末期,对三峡水库小江回水区的原生动物、轮虫群落进行了调查,共监测到原生动物52种、轮虫35种;其中,原生动物秋季种类最多,有30种,轮虫夏季种类较多,有25种。水华发生末期的现存量最高,但多样性指数最低。理化参数的多因素方差分析、聚类分析结果表明,小江回水区水环境具有明显的时间异质性。从物种组成聚类结果来看,不同时间的原生动物和轮虫群落组成不同,且与水环境的时间异质性并不一致。浮游动物现存量与环境因子关系的冗余分析(RDA)结果显示,水温与浮游动物群落现存量呈显著正相关。     

Several micronutrients in the rotifer Brachionus sp. may not fulfil the nutritional requirements of marine fish larvae

The current best practice intensive culture of larval Atlantic cod includes feeding rotifers from onset of exogenous feeding until 25–30 days after hatching. These larvae grow considerably slower and develop higher frequencies of deformities than larvae reared in semi‐extensive systems, using copepods as feed. The present study compares the micronutrient concentrations in rotifers with those of copepods, with the aim of identifying nutrients that may be limiting for normal growth and development of cod larvae. An additional criterion used is the nutrient requirements given for fish in general, by NRC (1993) , as nutrient requirements of cod remains to be determined. Rotifers were fed on four different diets, consisting of baker's yeast with cod liver oil (3.3 : 1 dry weight (DW)/v), baker's yeast with Algamac 2000^TM (3.5 : 1 DW), baker's yeast with live algae Chlorella (4.1 : 1 DW), and Culture Selco 3000^TM (CS). CS was a complete commercial diet for rotifers while the other diets are considered as based on raw ingredients. Compared with copepod nutrient levels, rotifers grown on yeast‐based diets supplemented with either cod liver oil, Algamac 2000 or Chlorella were apparently sufficient for covering the requirements in cod larvae for all the B‐vitamins, except thiamine. Rotifers cultured on the CS diet also had sufficient amounts of thiamine. Of the minerals, only calcium and magnesium were sufficient, using this criterion while iron was on the borderline. However, with reference to the requirements given for larger fish ( NRC 1993 ), only thiamine, vitamin A, manganese, selenium and perhaps copper, appear too low in the rotifers cultured without extra micronutrient supplementation. The other nutrients were present at levels intermediate between copepod and fish requirement levels. This study suggests that it is necessary to develop enrichment techniques to produce rotifers with sufficient amounts of all micronutrients. Such techniques will also be important tools for determining which nutrients are present at levels below the actual requirements in cod larvae.