Characteristics of Two-Stage Chemostat Cultures of Brachionus angularis

Abstract

Rotifers can grow in a chemostat culture vessel like unicells when provided with a suitable growth substrate, e.g., edible algae. In contrast to bacteria and protozoa with simple cell division, rotifers have a more complicated generation cycle. After a short time of development, rotifers produce eggs carried by the mothers until hatching in most cases. This period of embryonic development (D_e) is often called the “egg development time.” After this period, the eggs develop into free-swimming young. After the period of juvenile development, they become adults and lay eggs themselves. The population growth rate is dependent both on the length of these periods and the number of eggs laid per time interval.