Population growth of Asplanchna sieboldi fed two Brachionus spp. (Rotifera) raised on green alga and baker's yeast

Abstract

We conducted population growth experiments of A. sieboldi using Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus as prey. The prey rotifers were mass cultured separately on Chlorella vulgaris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or on their mixture. Data on population growth of A. sieboldi showed prey type and food density-related differences. At any given prey concentration, both B. calyciflorus and B. patulus raised on a mixture of alga and yeast, resulted in higher abundance of the predator than those raised solely on alga or yeast. The rate of population increase per day (r) of A. sieboldi increased with increasing prey density for both prey species. However, predators grown on B. patulus showed higher r values compared to those grown on B. calyciflorus.