Workpackage 2: The effect of culture methods on the genotypic diversity of cultured rotifers will document differences of the selection rate

The effect of the culture methods on the genotypic diversity of the cultured rotifers can be split in 2. First, the effect of 3 different culture types, batch, recirculation and continuous culture will be assessed (3 replicates). An ad random mixture of rotifer clones, coming from the collection established in WP1, will be monitored during one culture cycle. Samples for genetic analysis will be taken during these cultures. This will be repeated in time with other ad random mixtures. As water quality and microbial flora change very rapidly in a batch culture, compared to a recirculation or a continuous culture, there may be a difference in the rate of genetic drift of the clones.
In the second part, the effect of the frequency of harvesting on the genotypic diversity will be examined. An ad random mixture of rotifer clones will be inoculated in the different culture types and sampled during several culture cycles. It is reasonable to think that the more frequent rotifers are harvested and a small number is used to re-inoculate the next culture, the faster the genotypic diversity will decline as the rotifer population faces every time a genetic bottleneck.