Dietary mixed microalgae modulate growth and fatty acids of the copepod Apocyclops spartinus

Gaspar-Reyes W.; Ramos L.F.; Ynga-H. G.A.; Niño-V. A.F.; Alejos-Cabrera R.M.; Sánchez-Dávila P.P.A.; Tenorio C.; Aramayo V. · Aquaculture (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743844

Resumen

The sustainable advancement of larviculture in Latin America is constrained by the scarce availability of high-quality live feed. This study establishes a protocol for the copepod Apocyclops spartinus to address this bottleneck. The impact of mixed microalgal diets on the population growth and nutritional profile of this species was evaluated. A simplex centroid design revealed that mixed diets, particularly a 50:50 proportion of Chaetoceros calcitrans and Tetraselmis suecica, significantly outperformed monocultures, yielding a peak population density of 39,413 ± 4262 individuals/L. Fatty acid analysis demonstrated that dietary composition directly modulates lipid quality, reaching the highest DHA/EPA ratio (3.54) with Isochrysis galbana. Based on these findings, a two-phase culture protocol is proposed: a scalable production phase using the optimal mixture of C. calcitrans and T. suecica blend, followed by a targeted enrichment phase to enhance the nutritional profile. This work provides an accessible, resource-efficient blueprint for the reliable production of A. spartinus, offering a viable strategy to enhance larval quality and sustainability in regional aquaculture.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos