Nutritional and density-dependent responses of some cladocera

Abstract. Four cladoceran species of importance as fish food organisms, viz. Daphnia similes (Claus), Simocephalus vetulus (Schodler). Moina macrocopa (Straus) and Ceriodaphnia cornuta (Sars), were raised in the laboratory on nutrient sources including manures, rice bran and Chlorella. The organisms responded better with rice bran and Chlorella. The productivity of culture organisms appeared to depend upon inoculum and residual densities, indicating a relationship between periodic harvesting and increased production. Associated study reveals the importance of space per individual in the success of laboratory cultures. The optimum space requirement of each species determined by the size of culture organism may vary from 4·5cm3 per individual for small species like Ceriodaphnia to 41·8cm3 per individual for the larger species, Daphnia.