FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES ON PHYSIOLOGY OF ROTIFERS IN MASS-CULTURE .5. DRY CHLORELLA POWDER AS A FOOD FOR ROTIFERS

The dietary value of dried, commercial Chlorella was compared with that of living marine Chlorella and yeast, in relation to growth of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis raised individually and by batch culture methods. A concentration of 50 .mu.g/ml of dried Chlorella powder was near optimal density for rotifer growth. The dried material in suspension was less effective for growth than living marine Chlorella, although it is much more effective than a suspension of yeast at the same density (50 .mu.g/ml). In batch culture (12-l glass vessel), the rotifers grew from an initial inoculation of 13.2 individuals/ml to a density of 434 individuals/ml by the 16th day. About 107 rotifers could be removed from 1 batch culture in 5 harvests in the 41-day experimental period. Dried Chlorella powder was an effective food for the rotifer B. plicatilis.