Effect of commercial probiotic on the population dynamics of selected rotifers (Brachionus angularis, Plationus patulus) and cladocerans (Moina cf. macrocopa and Simocephalus mixtus)

In recent decades, an increasing interest in aquaculture for producing good quality and quantity of live food has led to the use of probiotics. Rotifers and cladocerans are important as live prey for fish and invertebrate larval rearing. We carried out an experimental study to evaluate the effect of a commercial probiotic (NanoCrusta (R)) on improving population growth ofBrachionus angularis, Plationus patulus, Moinacf.macrocopaandSimocephalus mixtus. The probiotic was tested by direct supplementation (2.1 x 10(6), 4.2 x 10(6), 8.5 x 10(6)and 1.7 x 10(7) cells/ml) in addition toC. vulgarisas a source of food (1 x 10(6) cells/ml). The results indicated that probiotics enhanced maximum population density (D-max) and the population growth rate (r) in both zooplankton groups. At 4.2 x 10(6) cells/ml,B. angularisimproved theirD(max)(62.74%) andr(28%) compared with probiotic-free control, whileP. patulusenhanced theirD(max)andrby 51.26% and 20.83% (probiotic at 8.5 x 10(6) cells/ml). The two lowest probiotic densities resulted in an improvement in the parameters compared with the probiotic-free control treatments:M. cf.macrocopaenhancedD(max)by 14.82% andrby 18%, andS. mixtusincrementedD(max)10.92% andrby 10%. The addition of probiotic bacteria also resulted in an improvement in the rotifer egg ratio (ER).