Population Growth of a Tropical Tintinnid, Metacylis jörgensenii on different Temperature, Salinity and Diet: A laboratory study

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of temperature, salinity and algal diet to find the optimum condition for the mass culture of tropical tintinnid Metacylis jörgensenii. This tintinnid had a small, hyaline and ovoid lorica. Oral diameter, length and maximum width of the lorica were 36.7 μm, 49.5 μm and 44.5 μm, respectively. M. jörgensenii reproduces with binary fission, and then daughter cells make their loricae. When the tintinnid was cultured with Isochrysis galbana at 30°C in this study, the maximum population growth rate (1.7/day) and the highest culture density (840 cells./mL) were observed at 30 and 33 ppt, respectively. M. jörgensenii showed small size, higher population growth rate and density. Thus, they seem to be a test organism or potential candidate as a live food for fish larvae.iameter, length and maximum width of the lorica were 36.7 μm, 49.5 μm and 44.5 μm, respectively. M. jörgensenii reproduces with binary fission, and then daughter cells make their loricae. When the tintinnid was cultured with Isochrysis galbana at 30°C in this study, the maximum population growth rate (1.7/day) and the highest culture density (840 cells./mL) were observed at 30 and 33 ppt, respectively. M. jörgensenii showed small size, higher population growth rate and density. Thus, they seem to be a test organism or potential candidate as a live food for fish larvae.