Elaphoidella grandidieri (Harpacticoida: Copepoda): Demographic characteristics and possible use as live prey in aquaculture.
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Date
2011-07
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Abstract
In freshwater ecosystems, rotifers and cladocerans are ideal prey for fish larvae whereas copepods, due to their
purported low growth rate and predatory tendency, are not. We recently isolated the parthenogenetic Elaphoidella
grandidieri (Guerne et Richard, 1893) a benthic freshwater harpacticoid, from a fish farm in the State of Morelos,
central Mexico and tested its potential as a live prey organism for larval vertebrates. Population growth and life
table demography experiments were conducted, in 100 ml recipients with 50 ml of test medium on a diet of
Scenedesmus acutus at a density of 1.0 X 106cell ml-1; the former on live algae alone while the latter on live algae
as well as detritus. We also conducted experiments to document the prey preference for this copepod by the
larval Ameca splendens (Pisces: Goodeidae) and Ambystoma mexicanum (Amphibia: Ambystomatidae), fed
the rotifer Plationus patulus, the ostracod Heterocypris incongruens, and the cladocerans Moina macrocopa and
Daphnia pulex. Elaphoidella grandidieri is relatively easy to maintain under laboratory conditions, reaching
densities (copepodites and adults) of more than 10,000 l-1. The generation time ranged between 30-45 days,
depending on the diet. The net reproductive rate was as high as 60 nauplii female -1 day -1. Population growth rates
ranged between 0.03 and 0.11 d-1, live algae being the superior diet compared to detritus. Both predators showed
no preference for E. grandidieri, but in the absence of alternate prey they consumed 80% of the harpacticoids
offered. The data have been discussed in relation to the potential of E. grandidieri as live food for aquaculture.
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Keywords
Aquaculture, Copepods, Population density, Fish food, Mass culture
Citation
Nandini S, Ortiz Alma Rosa Nunez, Sarma S S S. Elaphoidella grandidieri (Harpacticoida: Copepoda): Demographic characteristics and possible use as live prey in aquaculture. Journal of Environmental Biology. 2011 July; 32(4): 505-511.