The effect of caloric restriction on the population density of freshwater rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus)

The effects of caloric restriction (CR) on the population density of freshwater rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus) were investigated in the present study. During experiments with different CRs, groups of rotifers were fed with Chlorella sp. at the same concentrations of 1.5 × 106 cells/mL at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h intervals for 20 days. Significant changes were observed both in the population density and the peak days in groups subjected to different CRs (P < 0.01). The highest peak in population density was obtained on the fifth day for rotifers fed in 12 h intervals (269 ± 40.12 individuals/mL, mean ± SD). The rate of population increase (r) varied from 0.608 ± 0.073 to 0.288 ± 0.053, depending on the feeding intervals. The results show that CR affected the population density of B. calyciflorus.