Productive response of Nannochloropsis oculata, cultured in different media and their efficiency as food for the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis

• Published in: Phyton (Buenos Aires) 2012, Vol.81 (1), p.45-50
• Main Authors: A, Campa馻-Torres, Mart韓ez-C髍dova, LR, Mart韓ez-Porchas, M, L髉ez-El韆s, JA, Porchas-Cornejo, MA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Aquaculture; Brachionus rotundiformis; Chemical composition; Culture media; Fertilizers; Food; Food production; Nannochloropsis oculata; Rotifera
• ISSN: 1851-5657; 0031-9457; 1851-5657
• DOI: 10.32604/phyton.2012.81.045

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different culture media on the productive response and proximate composition of microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata, and the subsequent effect of such microalgae on the productive response and proximate composition of the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis. Microalgae were cultured in different media: Guillard F/2 (control), an agricultural fertilizer, and an aquacultural fertilizer. Thereafter, such microalgae were used to feed rotifers. A better productive response was observed when microalgae were cultured in the agricultural fertilizer. In addition, the chemical proximate composition of microalgae was influenced by the type of culture medium used. When used as natural food for rotifers, higher productive response was observed in those rotifers fed with microalgae previously cultured in the aquacultural fertilizer. Also, the proximate composition of rotifers was influenced by the type of microalgae they consumed. In conclusion, the productive response and quality of microalgae depended on the medium in which they grew; also, the productive response and proximate composition of rotifers depended upon the nutritional quality of N. oculata.