COLLECTION AND CULTURE OF LIVE FOODS FOR AQUACULTURE IN TAIWAN

Collection and culture of live foods to be used in studies of feeds fo r rearing finfish and shellfish larvae in Taiwan began in 1982. Today, 31 species (49 strains) of microalgae, three species (nine strains) o f rotifers, one cladoceran and one copepod are hold as start culture. Microalgae are collected from local waters and obtained from foreign c ollection centers. The most common genera are Chlorella, Nannochlorops is, Tetraselmis, Chaetoceros,Skeletonema, Isochrysis, and Pavlova. Som e interesting genera such as Ellipsoidion, Nannochloris, Synechococcus , and Alexandrium are also included. Three types of rotifers, i.e. L, S, and SS-type, which are classified as Brachionus plicatilis, B. rotu ndiformis, and Brachionus sp. are found in Taiwan waters. Among the ro tifers, six strains have been isolated and cultured. Another L-type st rain and two SS-type strains were obtained from foreign sources. The c ladoceran Diaphanosoma aspinosum and copepod Apacyclops royi are the m ost common species used in aquaculture. Studies of Live foods includin g their morphology, culture techniques, fatty acid composition and nut ritional value as feeds have been undertaken.