Mass Culture of Ultra-small Rotifer, Synchaeta kitina at the Exchange Rate of Culture Water and Initial Inoculation Density

The productivity of ultra-small rotifer, Synchaeta kitina was investigated at the exchange rate of culture water (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) and initial inoculation densities (250, 600 and 900 inds. per mL) in semi-continuous culture. Also, the possibility of mass culture was investigated in a 100 L culture tank. Tetraselmis suecica was used as the feed for S. kitina in all experiments. The production of S. kitina increased with an increase in exchange rate of culture water. The highest production ($82.0{\times}10^5$ inds.) was achieved at 40% exchange rate of culture water. The production of S. kitina increased with an increase of initial inoculation density during the first week and the highest total production ($17.4{\times}10^6$ inds.) was achieved at 900 inds. per mL of initial inoculation density. However, on the second week, all treatments were not significantly different in total production (P>0.05). During the two weeks, total production of S. kitina at 900 inds. per mL of initial inoculation density was higher than at 600 inds. of initial inoculation density, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). In the 100 L culture tank, density of S. kitina was kept from 516 to 890 inds. per mL and S. kitina was daily harvested $15.5{\times}10^6$ to $26.7{\times}10^6$ during the experimental period. The production cost for 100 million rotifers in semi-continuous culture was 63,656 won. The results from this study indicate that the optimal exchange rate of culture water and initial inoculation density for the semi-continuous culture of ultra-small rotifer, S. kitina are 40% and 600 inds. per mL, respectively.

환수율 및 접종밀도에 따른 초소형 rotifer, Synchaeta kitina의 대량배양