Abstract

Outdoor cultures of Brachionus quadridentatus raised in 10 m3 concrete tanks fed on co-cultured three algal species (Chlorella vulgaris, Eudorina elegans andScenedesmus quadricauda) feed showed statistically significant differences in population biomass growth. Growth of B. quadridentatus feeding on S. quadricauda was significantly greater than when fed on C. vulgaris. No significant differences in growth were observed between Brachionus cultures fed on S. quadricauda and E. elegans and between those fed on C. vulgaris and E. elegans.Daily B. quadridentatus population biomass increase was highest with S. quadricauda, followed by E. elegans and lastly C. vulgaris. B. quadridentatusneeded approximately 20, 48 and 63 h, respectively, with C. vulgaris, S. quadricauda and E. elegans, to double its population. 

Key words: Zooplankton, algae, culture, nutrient.