The growth of a bialgal culture and its use as food for shrimp larvae

Abstract

The cultivation of the microalga Tetraselmis chuii with the protection of the extracellular products of Chlorella kessleri, grown in a bialgal culture, allows its development in outdoor tanks without special conditions of sterilization or aeration. Fish meal and agricultural inorganic compounds are used as fertilizers. The growth of the mixed species is analyzed comparing it with monoalgal cultures. The best fit of growth data to a logistic curve is performed and the whole curve is compared using a covariance analysis. The stratification of T. chuii in the tank favors its harvest at high concentration. A bialgal culture (based on T. chuii at 50 cells/mm3) as food for the larvae of the shrimps Penaeus notialis and P. schmitti, together with hard boiled egg yolk and rotifers, achieves good development and survival.