Brachionus calyciflorus is one of freshwater rotifers found in fish ponds in Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia. Its density varied depending on that of phytoplankton. Maximum of 2.5 x 10(3) ind./l was found in ponds fertilised with animal wastes.The fecundity and population growth of B. calyciflorus was studied. Results indicated that the fecundity of amictic females was higher than that of unfertilized mictic females. During their life span, amictic and mictic females produced 29.7 and 12.5 eggs per female, respectively. In the mass culture of 500 mi media, the highest density of female and male rotifers was 975.8 and 9.6 ind./ml, respectively. During 8 days culture period, they also produced eggs as many as 124.2/ml. Human and animal wastes promoted the growth of phytoplankton as food for rotifers in the pond. A laboratory study confirms this. The best growth of B. calyciflorus at a density of 109 ind./ml was found at 0.5 g/l of human excreta. A high density of B. calyciflorus (542 ind./ml) was also found in semi-continuous culture with chicken excreta. (Univ. Riau Jl Pattimura 9, Fac. Fisheries, Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia)
home