The Antarctic bacterium, strain ACAM 456, is known to produce eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA). Following growth in batch culture, suspensions of this bacterium, at initial concentrations of 107, 108 and 109 cells ml-1, were used as foods for three respective cultures of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. At 6 and 24 h. rotifers were removed, harvested and extracted for analysis of fatty acid composition, which was compared to that of rotifers grown on baker's yeast. Incorporation of EPA, along with bacterial fatty acid markets (i13:0, i15:0 and 14:0), was evidenced at all bacterial food concentrations tested. The highest observed incorporation occurred when rotifers were grown in the medium initially containing 109 bacteria ml-1. After 24 h of feeding, the level of EPA reached 9.4% of total fatty acids in the fed rotifers (6.7 ng of EPA rotifer-1). ACAM 456, a bacterial strain with the ability to produce EPA, was therefore shown to be a potential alternative enrichment food for the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis under feeding conditions that may be applicable to many Australian mariculture operations.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries Sciences
Research Field:	Aquaculture
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences
Author:	Nichols, DS (Dr David Nichols)
Author:	Hart, PR (Dr Piers Hart)
Author:	Nichols, PD (Dr Peter Nichols)
Author:	McMeekin, TA (Professor Thomas McMeekin)
ID Code:	6721
Year Published:	1996
Web of Science® Times Cited:	33
Deposited By:	Agricultural Science
Deposited On:	1996-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-16
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