Effects of density of dietary microalgal Isochrysis Galbana on fecundity and hatching rate of Copepod Apocyclops Royi
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of microalgae Isochrysis galbana density on the fertility and hatching success of a cyclopoid copepoda Apocyclops royi. The experiment was conducted with 3 treatments of I. galbana equivalent to 160; 800 and 1600μg C/L. Each treatment had 10 replicates. Copepoda A. royi was fed microalgae according to 3 treatments from nauplius stage 3 to adult. When A. royi matured, their fertility was determined based on the average number of eggs of 30 females Copepoda in each treatment; the hatching success rate was determined based on the hatching rate of the eggs from 10 females per treatment. The results showed that the fertility of A. royi was highest at the I. galbana density of 1600 and lowest at 160μg C/L. The hatching success rate was highest in treatment 800, followed by 1600 and lowest at 160μg C/L (P < 0.05). This study provides essential information on the effect of feeding regime on fertility and successful hatching rate of A. royi, which is of great significance in the development of culture techniques for biomass production of copepods.
