Biotechnology and
aquaculture of rotifers
E. Lubzens, O. Zmora, Y. Barr-2001
Hydrobiologia, 446/447: 337-353
Abstract:
Biotechnology can be defined as any technology that involves living
organisms or their derivatives. In applying this definition to rotifers, we
focus on their contribution in culturing of early larval stages of marine
fish. After almost four decades of marine fish culture in captivity, the
success of this worldwide industry is still quite dependent on mass culture
of the species Brachionus plicatilis and B. rotundiformis. In mass culture,
the rotifers are continuously driven to reproduce at high rates, in
relatively extreme environmental conditions of high population density and
high loads of organic matter. Therefore, the success of mass cultures and
future improvements in these systems relies on a close interaction between
basic and applied studies of rotifers. In the present review, we will
attempt to analyze why rotifers are suitable for early life stages of fish
and to describe, in general, methodologies that have been devised for
reliable supply of rotifers in large quantities. Problems associated with
rotifer production, nutritional quality and effect on fish health and
nutrition, will be discussed. Research on B. plicatilis and B. rotundiformis
has increased enormously during the past three decades and these two species
are the best-studied rotifers so far. While much of the research on these
species is directed or devoted to the needs of aquaculture industry, they
are also used as models for addressing basic biological questions, due to
the relative ease of culture and their availability. Studies on feeding,
pheromones, speciation in rotifers, the occurrence and putative hormones
involved in sexual and asexual reproduction and production of resting eggs,
are few examples of such studies. Rotifers will probably maintain their role
as food organism for fish larvae, in spite of attempts to replace them with
more accessible formulated food. Development of new culture methods that
will improve the nutritional quality and production efficiency of rotifers
may result in more diversified and flexible tasks for these organisms in
aquaculture.