Research Article: The effects of L-carnitine levels on population growth of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis fed with Chlorella vulgaris

In this study, S-type rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were enriched with ۱۰ levels (۰, ۰.۰۰۱, ۰.۰۱, ۰.۱, ۱, ۱۰, ۱۰۰, ۵۰۰, ۱۰۰۰ and ۱۵۰۰ mg L-carnitine per L) of L-carnitine supplements dissolved in Chlorella vulgaris culture medium in a ۱۰ mL individual culture trial for ۷ days. The initial rotifer density was ۱ individual mL-۱. The trials were conducted to ۲۰۰×۰۶ cell mL-۱ at food density at ۲۵±۱ºC under an axenic condition in the laboratory. L-carnitine enrichment has shown considerable influence on the population growth of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. As a result, the maximum number of individuals was determined as ۱۵۶۰ ± ۱۰.۰۰ rot./mL in the group enriched with ۱۰۰ mg/L L-carnitine supplement and the lowest number of individuals was determined ۳۷۶.۶۷±۲۵.۱۷ rot./mL in the group enriched with ۱۵۰۰ mg/L L-carnitine addition (p<۰.۰۵). The maximum growth rate was found to be ۰.۶۳±۰.۰۲ rot/ day in the group enriched with ۱۰۰ mg/L L-carnitine addition (p<۰.۰۵). The maximum doubling time was ۱.۳۱±۰.۰۲ rot./ day for the group enriched with ۱۰۰۰ mg/L L-carnitine (p<۰.۰۵). The results suggested that L-carnitine could be a positive factor to enhance reproduction and population growth on enriched Brachionus plicatilis under the optimum concentration.  

Keywords:

Rotifer , Brachionus plicatilis , L-carnitine , Population growth