Do strain differences in microalgae alter their relative quality as a food for the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis?

Brachionus plicatilis is used in aquaculture to feed larval fish and crustaceans. It is well established that different prey species alter rotifer productivity. Isochrysis galbana is one microalgal prey that is commonly fed to rotifers, and there are several strains of this flagellate available to aquaculturists. As microalgae strains may differ in their composition and growth attributes, we rigorously examined if growth and biochemical differences in I. galbana strains elicit differences in the growth and biochemical attributes of B. plicatilis. Four I. galbana strains and one strain of the flagellate Nanochloropsis were grown under standard conditions. Growth rate, cell volume, production, and composition (dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, lipid) were measured. Significant differences occurred between strains in all of these attributes (at times 2 to 3 fold), but no clear pattern emerged that one strain was superior. Of note was that for some measurements, strain differences were significantly greater than differences between species. The strains were then fed to rotifers, and a number of parameters were measured: growth rate, reproductive rate, fecundity attributes, a number of developmental rates, and composition (dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, lipid). There were significant effects of prey strain on some of these attributes, but none was dramatic (rarely more than 10% and occasionally up to 30%), suggesting that aquaculturists need not be too concerned regarding which I. galbana strain they use. However, we do indicate subtle differences, induced by different prey strains and suggest that for maximum productivity these differences should be considered.