Original Article

Examination of a practical method for copper enrichment of euryhaline rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) as diet of Eriocheir sinensis zoea larvae

  1. S. Sun1,2,
  2. L. Chen1,*,
  3. X. Ge2,
  4. J. Qin3

Article first published online: 14 FEB 2013

DOI: 10.1111/anu.12027

Additional Information

How to Cite

Sun, S., Chen, L., Ge, X. and Qin, J. (2013), Examination of a practical method for copper enrichment of euryhaline rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) as diet of Eriocheir sinensis zoea larvae. Aquaculture Nutrition. doi: 10.1111/anu.12027

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

  2. 2

    Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture Biology of Freshwater Fishes, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China

  3. 3

    School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

* Correspondence: Li Qiao Chen, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
E-mail: lqchen@bio.ecnu.edu.cn

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 14 FEB 2013
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 26 NOV 2012
  3. Manuscript Received: 9 SEP 2012

Funded by

  • Agro-scientific Research. Grant Numbers: 201003020, 201203065
  • National Science and Technology for the Rural Development in China. Grant Number: 2012BAD25B03
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 31172422
  • National Basic Research Program. Grant Number: 2009CB118702
  • Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology. Grant Number: 10JC1404100
  • Shanghai Agriculture Science and Technology Key Grant. Grant Numbers: 2-1, 2009
  • Shanghai technology system for Chinese mitten-handed crab industry
  • -Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Grant Number: E03009

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Keywords:

  • Chinese mitten crab;
  • copper;
  • enrichment;
  • Eriocheir sinensis ;
  • mineral;
  • rotifer

Abstract

In this study, an effective method to enrich the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis with copper was developed as a feed for the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis zoea larvae. Changes in the concentrations of other minerals in rotifers were also examined when copper was added for rotifer enrichment. The ability of Chlorella to absorb waterborne copper is much higher than that of rotifers, and hence, copper was preaccumulated in Chlorella before its ingestion by rotifers. The copper content in rotifers was comparable to the dietary copper requirement of the crab larvae when the rotifers were enriched with 0.1 mg Cu g−1 Chlorella for 12 h. Further enrichment in rotifers with Cu-enriched Chlorella and lipid emulsions did not significantly change the profile of major fatty acids and mineral composition in the rotifers. Evidence shows the feasibility of copper enrichment in rotifers using microalgae that can accumulate copper. This study indicates that copper in rotifers can be enriched by feeding copper-enriched algae at a concentration of 0.1–0.2 mg Cu g−1 Chlorella. The developmental rates of E. sinensis can be improved by feeding zoea larvae with copper-enriched rotifers, but survival rates were not affected by dietary copper enrichment.

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