Interesting question,

Moina macrocopa and M. macrocopa is very frequent in rainy pools Moina micrura and M. weismani in shallow ponds M. micura group.. in low eutrophycated; M. weismani in highere eutrophycated,,,,,  I do not know Moina from reservoirs and deep lakes. neither  from tropic reservoirs   After me  you can found bery interesting species from rainy pools with muddy water. rice filds but not from marches. water must be opened and vwithout vegetation. You can identified such localitis from larger distances... there are flying bidrs from the genus Vanelus (in Cetral Europe).

Dear Kelvin,

any Moina and any copepods have very different population growth rate. Moina will always lead in suitable conditions. Only rotifers and infusoria can harm the Cladocera with a very high rate of reproduction.

If you put only 1 healthy female M. macrocopa in "good" water with an adequate level of food, after 2 weeks you can get biomass as 2 tablespoons (M. micrura - 2 teaspoons). After 4 weeks - a few pounds. The size of a vessel and the rate of food intake should be proportional to the number of individuals. 1 female - 20-50 ml beaker (M. micrura - 5 ml). 100 females - 500 ml.

To prevent any infections, I use clonal cultures from latent eggs (method of G.O. Sars).

What species are we talking about? Do you have latent eggs or mud samples from that pond?

I have had only natural specimens from the nature,  not clones,   from type of water where they lives. no laboratory conditions ... only natural living populations (samples) from the different water types, not for production, but for identification from  preserved samples.

Thank you for your reply Mr. Igor Hudec and your precious sharing Mr. Vladimir K. Tchougounov.

The species I am currently experiencing is Moina irrasa, I am trying to culture a pure stock or a dominant stock of Moina irrasa by inoculating them into an earthern pond (36m x 10m x 1.3m), but cyclops started to invade several days after the Moina appeared. I did not take sample from that pond yet, it seems like a good practice so I will do that this week.

Regarding 'The size of a vessel and the rate of food intake should be proportional to the number of individuals. 1 female - 20-50 ml beaker (M. micrura - 5 ml). 100 females - 500 ml' , may I know what did you feed your moina? In my case, I'm providing chlorella, does that mean 1 female should have 20-50 chlorella cells?

I am unable dorect  collection of pure Moina from the nature. It is imposiible

from ponds;  only from poos it is quite commnon

Dear Kelvin,

but Moina irassa if M. affinis according Goulden (1968)

Dear Kelvin,

sorry for my slow response, I do not see any notifications here.

If you have the equipment to produce (opportunity to buy) enough Chlorella, to provide such the pond, soon Moina will change the pond so that the rest of the zooplankton will not survive. Moina spp. are aedificators, ecosystem engineers.

Professor Hudec is absolutely right, the valid name is Moina affinis Birge, 1893. But I'm not sure that this is the right name for your population, because a huge number of undescribed yet species are shown for these cladocerans.

However, species from this group are not good for aquaculture due to relatively low productivity.

For absolutely unlimited (exponential) growth of M. macrocopa population in the lab I use 200,000 Chlorella cells/ml (20-50 ml beaker/female) per day. For small species, like M. micrura - at least 5 ml at same food concentration.

It is very important to use a fresh harvest of Chlorella, collected at an exponential stage of growth. Dry Chlorella powder gives a very poor result.

If you have any questions, please ask by email: Vlad.Tchougounov at gmail/com

http://fada.biodiversity.be/group/show/17

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