To find seasonally optimal microalgae for mass culture of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, the growth rates of 12 microalgal species (two marine Chlorella spp., five marine Nannochloris spp., two marine Nannochloropsis spp., one estuarine Nannochloropsis sp., and two estuarine Chlorella spp.) were compared at 25°C at 15 psu and 30 psu. Among these, six species showing high growth rates were chosen and examined again at high (30°C and 32°C) and low (10°C) temperatures. Their amino and fatty acids and the dietary value of the rotifers that fed on each microalgal species were examined. Nannochloris sp. (KMMCC-119) and Chlorella vulgaris (KMMCC-120) showed the highest growth rates at temperatures over 30 o C and at 10°C, respectively. The growth rate of Nannochloris was higher than those of Chlorella and Nannochloropsis at high temperatures, but lower than those of the latter at low temperatures. The growth rate of rotifers fed on Nannochloropsis was highest and that of those fed on Chlorella was lowest. Levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were highest in Nannochloropsis and lowest in Nannochloris. However, total amino acid content was highest in Nannochloris and lowest in Chlorella. In conclusion, Nannochloropsis sp. (KMMCC-33) was the best microalgal species for the mass culture of the rotifer. However, during high-or low-temperature seasons in which Nannochloropsis does not grow well, Nannochloris spp. (KMMCC-119, 395) and C. vulgaris (KMMCC-120) would adequately replace Nannochloropsis sp. (KMMCC-33).
This study was conducted to develop economical agricultural fertilizer media for the mass culturing of Nannochloropsis oceanica. Specific growth rates of N. oceanica cultured with differing concentrations of commercial compounds, urea fertilizers, and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Co, Mo) were compared with the growth rate in f/2 medium. Among the various added trace elements, CuSO 4 ‧5H 2 O was most effective for high growth of N. oceanica. The main nitrogen source in the agricultural fertilizers was ammonium, which was unsuitable for the growth of N. oceanica. Thus, the fertilizer at a lower concentration infused with NaNO 3 as a nitrogen source was more effective than fertilizer at higher concentrations. In this study, the growth of N. oceanica cultured with an agricultural fertilizer medium composed of compound fertilizer (41.7 mg/L), urea fertilizer (34.4 mg/L), NaNO 3 (150 mg/L), and CuSO4‧5H 2 O (0.0588 mg/L) was similar to that of N. oceanica cultured in f/2 medium.
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