ABSTRACT
The lipid content and the fatty acid composition of Brachionus plicatilis is related to its dietary lipids. The aim of this paper is to present a multi-step method for production of rotifers with specified lipid content and fatty acid profile. The method involves long term enrichment of ω3 fatty acid during the cultivation period (LT-enrichment) in addition to short term enrichment of ω3 fatty acids and lipids (ST-enrichment).
LT- and ST-enrichment applied in combination offers the possibility of efficient manipulation of both fatty acid profile and lipid contents in rotifers. The fatty acid profile is controlled during cultivation and LT-enrichment, whereas the lipid level and the quantitative contents of ω3 HUFA are controlled through successive ST-enrichment of the LT-enriched rotifers.
The predictive models presented can be used to derive approximate values for lipids, sum of ω3 fatty acids, EPA, and DHA in rotifers based on the percent fatty acid content of the feed and the food ration given during ST-enrichment.
