Characterization of a Unique New Strain Named the NFRDI N°1 Rotifer Strain, a Brackish Brachionus Rotifer Collected from a South Korea Coastal Lagoon

Abstract

A new and a unique Brachionus rotifer was found in Hwajinpo coastal lagoon in Gangwon Province, South Korea. This Brachionus certainly originated from the wild rather than from aquaculture stations because Hwajinpo coastal lagoon has been under rigorous control as a military protected area and therefore could not have been contaminated by aquaculture stations. The new strain was identified as Brachionus rotundiformis based upon its morphological characteristics. The parthenogenetic female of this new rotifer strain typically shows characters similar to those of B. rotundiformis, such as the pot shape of the body, rounded dorsal plate compared with flattened ventral plate, elliptical mictic egg, four frontal spines, six pointed occipital spines, non-nodal foot, two toes, trophi typical of the Brachionus genus with five uncus plates resembling comb teeth, one wide symmetrical manubrium and ramus, and no stiffened spine as is seen in freshwater Brachionus rotifers. Moreover, its lorica was rather small in size compared with other common rotifer strains that serve as live-food organisms (Guam, Thai, and Bali strains). This new and unique Korean brackish rotifer, a B. rotundiformis strain, was therefore named the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) <TEX>$N^{\circ}1$</TEX> rotifer strain.