Biochemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Zooplankton in Aquatic Ecosystems: Insights from Brachionus calyciflorus, Moina macracopa, Mesocyclops hyalins and Cyprinotus nudus

In this study the nutritional potential and biochemical composition of four different live feed cultures, including rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus), cladoceran (Moina macracopa), copepod (Mesocyclops hyalins), and ostracod (Cyprinotus nudus).The researchers cultured these live feeds in laboratory conditions and analyzed their nutritional profiles, focusing on the proximate composition of lipids, proteins, and glycogen. The results revealed that the lipid, protein, and glycogen content varied among the different zooplankton species, with Cyprinotus nudus showing the highest total lipid content (44.62%), Mesocyclops hyalins exhibiting the highest protein value (70.2%), Moina macracopa having the maximum total glycogen content (19.64%), and Brachionus calyciflorus displaying the highest water content (89.7%). These findings provide valuable insights into the nutritional potential of different live feed cultures, which could be used to optimize the cultivation of aquatic species and enhance their growth and survival.