Abstract:
This study was conducted to culture and upscale three different species of marine
harpacticoid copepods which were the Robertgurneya sp., Pararobertsonia sp. and
Arenosetella kaiseri in a laboratory condition using two methods, monoculture ( one
species at time) and multiculture (mix of species in one culture vessel) technique. All
three species of harpacticoid copepods were obtained from the wild at Merchang estuary
and cultured in a laboratory condition with temperature 25 ± I °C and salinity ranging
between 24-26 ppt for 45 days. Harpacticoid copepods cultures were fed baker's yeast
(O. lmg/ml) daily. For monoculture technique, Arenosetella kaiseri showed the highest
population density with 8.00 ± 1.00 individual per ml of culture medium, while the
lowest population density belongs to Robertgurneya sp. with only 0.2 ± 0.06 individual
found per ml of culture medium. For multiculture technique, the cultured and upscaled
value was 10.70 ± 0.58 individual found per ml of culture medium. Statistical analysis
using one way ANOV A of all treatments showed that the upscaled value of population
density resulted in significant difference between species (P< 0.05). In order to compare
the successful method in culturing and upscaling of marine harpacticoid, instantaneous
growth rate (K) and doubling time (Dt) were calculated. In terms of instantaneous growth
rate (K), Arenosetella kaiseri showed the highest value with 0.1±0.003 and Robertgurneya
sp. showed the lowest rate with 0.02. For doubling time (Dt), the lowest day needed to doubling the population density belongs to Arenosetella kaiseri with 10 days compared to Robertgurneya sp. which needs 50 days. Thus, The suitable species and technique to culture and upscale marine harpacticoid species in laboratory condition belongs to Arenosetella kaiseri by monoculture technique.
