Artículo Composición y abundancia de comunidades microbianas asociadas al biofloc en un cultivo de tilapiaMicrobiology community composition and abundance associated to biofloc in tilapia aquaculture Abstract.-The goal of this study was to identify and estimate the abundance of microorganisms associated to biofloc culture system, developed from a 'macrocosm-microcosm' system type. In first section (cylinder 1000 L), 75 juveniles tilapias were inoculated with 5.0 ± 0.95 cm mean length and 4.2 ± 1.08 g mean weight were placed. Daily, the fishes were fed with commercial diet, maintaining a C/N = 15:1 ratio, carbon (molasses and rice dust) and nitrogen (from commercial feed) supply was controlled. This culture condition was maintained during 14 weeks. Several microorganisms associated to the flocs were identified using conventional microbiological tests. To estimate the abundance of organisms associated to flocs, a stereoscopic and optical microscopes were used. Both microscopes were connected to an interphase program for images counting (Image ProPlus v.7.0). The results shown changes in abundance of different microorganisms communities associated to flocs during 14 weeks of experiment. The main groups found in flocs were: bacteria, algae, ciliates, rotifers and nematodes. The results confirm that the bioflocs contributes significantly as in situ natural food source, because a great number of organisms may be associated to them including heterotrophic microbial communities like genus Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Nitrospira, Nitrobacter and yeast Rhodotorula sp. The literature show that these microorganisms favoring water quality and physiological good health at organisms in culture. Key words: Bacteria, ciliates, flocs, nematodes, rotifersResumen.-El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar y estimar la abundancia de microrganismos asociados a un sistema de cultivo biofloc desarrollado a partir de un sistema del tipo 'macrocosmo-microcosmo'. En la primera sección (cilindro de 1000 L), se colocaron 75 tilapias con una longitud aproximada de 5,0 ± 0,95 cm y un peso promedio de 4,2 ± 1,08 g. Los peces fueron alimentados diariamente con una dieta comercial, manteniendo una relación C/N= 15:1, mediante el aporte controlado de carbono (melaza y pulido de arroz) y nitrógeno (proveniente del alimento comercial). Esta condición fue mantenida durante 14 semanas. Se identificaron los diversos microrganismos asociados a los flóculos, utilizando pruebas microbiológicas convencionales. Se determinó la abundancia de los organismos asociados a los flóculos utilizando microscopio óptico y estereoscópico, ambos conectados con el programa de imágenes y de conteo (Image ProPlus v.7.0). Los resultados obtenidos indican cambios en la abundancia de las diversas comunidades de organismos asociados a los flóculos durante las 14 semanas del experimento. Los principales grupos encontrados fueron: bacterias, microalgas, ciliados, rotíferos y nematodos. Los resultados confirman que los flóculos contribuyen como fuente de alimento natur...

Abstract:Salinity is an important factor influencing growth and survival of aquatic organisms such as Artemia, a valuable aquaculture species. This study evaluated the effects of salinity on A. franciscana populations from different water bodies in Mexico's Pacific Coast. With this purpose, five autochthonous bisexual Artemia populations were tested to assess their survival and growth values against salinities of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120g/l, under laboratory conditions (25±2ºC; pH 8-10; constant light and aeration). The organisms were fed with 100mL of rice bran and 2L of Tetraselmis suecica (500 000cel/ml). The culture experiments were made in 200L plastic tanks, and survival and growth final values were obtained after 21 culture days. Survival and growth curves were determined by a regression analysis (R 2 ). The significant differences between salinities were determined by ANOVA test (p<0.05). The best survival and growth rates were found at salinities of 100-120g/l. When the Mexican Artemia populations were cultivated at 40g/l of salinity, 100% mortality was observed in the juvenile stage. This study determined that survival and growth values of A. franciscana populations increased with salinity. The five A. franciscana populations presented significant differences in their survival rate under various salinity regimes. The studied populations experienced high mortality at salinities under 60g/l and over 200g/l, and especially during the metanauplius stage. The present study confirms that growth rates in Mexican A. franciscana populations from Pacific Coast habitats are not inversely proportional to salinity. These A. franciscana populations should be cultured at 100-120g/l of salinity to obtain better survival and growth rates. This data is useful to improve culture systems in aquaculture biomass production systems. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (1): 199-206. Epub 2011 March 01.