Laboratory Culture Of Selected Freshwater Zooplankton Species

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to standardize culture methods for native freshwater zooplankton species under captive conditions, to achieve this the selected species of zooplankton available in the local freshwater bodies were collected and bred under laboratory conditions. The species selected for culture were individuals from rotifer group, cyclops & Lecane inermis. The cultures were designed in two different methods viz polyculture, this group consisted of crustaceans like cyclops, rotifers like Branchionus sps, protozoans like Paramecium, another culture was monoculture, in which two species of zooplankton viz Eucyclop serrulatus and Lecane inermis were maintained separately. The polycultures were maintained in two sets one being fed with yeast and another with bacterial culture(curd). The replica maintained on yeast showed good results in comparison to the one fed with bacterial culture, care was taken to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity of 27± 2°c and 75% respectively in the culture rooms. Along with this monoculture of Eucyclop serrulatus was undertaken this species grew well when fed with bacterial culture comparatively when fed with yeast. Further monoculture of Lecane inermis was subjected to two different volumes (200ml and 2000ml), and were fed with algae for 20days, it was noted that higher volume of water aided in the reproductive success and it was high in 2000ml compared to the other volume. Lecane species are recently been used in Waste Water Treatment (WWT) process and their culture in laboratory is crucial for commercial supply of these species. The zooplankton are proven to be the best live feed in aquaculture practices, so this work was an attempt to culture them under captivity and supply for commercial aquaculture needs hence emphasizing the entrepreneurship opportunities in this sector as well.