Biology of Moina mongolica (Moinidae, Cladocera) and perspective as live food for marine fish larvae: review

Abstract

Moina mongolica, 1.0-1.4 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, is an Old World euryhaline species. This paper reviewed the recent advances on its autecology, reproductive biology, feeding ecology and perspective as live food for marine fish larviculture. Salinity tolerance of this species ranges from 0.4–1.4‰ to 65.2–75.4‰. Within 2–50‰ salinity, Moina mongolica can complete its life cycle through parthenogenesis. The optimum temperature is between 25 ◦ C and 28 ◦ C, while it tolerates high temperature between 34.4 ◦ C and 36.0 ◦ C and lower temperature between 3.2 ◦ C and 5.4 ◦ C. The non-toxic level of unionised ammonia (24 h LC50 )f orM. mongolica is < 2.6 mg NH 3–N l −1 . Juvenile individuals filter 2.37 ml d −1 and feed 9.45×10 6 algal cells d −1 , while mature individuals filter 9.45 ml d −1 and consume 4.94×10 6 algal cells d −1 .A t 28 ◦ C, M. mongolica reaches sex maturity in 4 d and gives birth once a day afterward; females carry 7.3 eggs brood −1 and spawn 2.8 times during their lifetime. A variety of food can be used for M. mongolica culture including unicellular algae, yeast and manure, but the best feeding regime is the combination of Nannochloropsis oculata and horse manure. Moina mongolica reproduces parthenogenetically during most lifetime, but resting eggs can be induced at temperature (16 ◦ C) combined with food density at 2000– 5000 N. oculata ml −1 . The tolerance to low dissolved oxygen (0.14–0.93 mg l −1 ) and high ammonia makes it suitable for mass production. Biochemical analyses showed that the content of eicospantanoic acid (20:5ω3) in M. mongolica accounts for 12.7% of total fatty acids, which is higher than other live food such as Artemia nauplii and rotifers. This cladoceran has the characteristics of wide salinity adaptation, rapid reproduction and ease of mass culture. The review highlights its potential as live food for marine fish larvae.