Critical Consideration of Chemostat Experiments

Abstract

The use of chemostats in rotifer culture was first proposed by Droop (in Conover 1970) who regarded this technique as a promising approach for eco-physiological studies. He referred to, and later described in more detail (Droop 1976), a two-stage system in which the second-stage rotifer chemostat is supplied by a steady-state algal culture. This has been the most widely used system since then, and the following considerations essentially apply to it. Other continuous culture techniques, such as one-stage chemostats, turbidostats, or semi-continuous cultures (see other chapters in this volume), differ in important aspects.