Comparison of the growth and fatty acid compositions of Rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus fed with two freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus obliquus

The rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus is a promising candidate for feeding freshwater fish larvae with its suitable size and the high reproductive rate in cultural media. In this research, effects of two microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella sp. on growth rate and fatty acid composition of B. calyciflorus was investigated. We used EPA medium together with two freshwater microalgae at the same density to culture the rotifer. Primary density of rotifers in 11 balloons was 30ind.ml-1. Results showed that the rotifers fed with Chlorella sp. had significantly higher growth rate than those fed with S. obliquus. Maximum density of rotifers fed with Chlorella sp. and S. obliquus reached 478 and 328ind. Ml super(-1) after 7 days, respectively. Mean daily growth rate was 0.61 and 0.42 for rotifers fed with Chlorella sp. and S. obliquus, respectively. Rotifers fed with Chlorella sp. and S. obliquus had high amount of linoleic acid (16.24 and 18.47%, respectively) and linolneic acid (15.14 .....