A method for culturing a copepod zooplankton and application of a blue light source
By employing alternating light and dark blue light irradiation and optimized water quality management during the culture of copepod zooplankton, the problem of yield fluctuations caused by poor lighting conditions was solved, and efficient and stable culture of copepod zooplankton was achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202611006097.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-07-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-25
AI Technical Summary
In existing culture of copepod zooplankton, poor lighting conditions lead to fluctuations in yield and limited population growth.
The culture water was irradiated with blue light using alternating light and dark methods. Combined with optimized water quality management and microalgae feeding, the light environment of the culture water was ensured to meet the physiological needs of copepods.
It significantly improved the yield and productivity of copepod zooplankton, ensuring stable population growth and reproduction.
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Figure CN122623622A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of zooplankton culture technology, and in particular to a method for culturing copepods and the application of a blue light source. Background Technology
[0002] Copepods, an indispensable group of zooplankton in marine ecosystems, can be effectively fed on by various marine fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish larvae at their nauplius, larval, and adult stages. Compared to conventional live prey such as rotifers and brine shrimp, copepods exhibit significant advantages: their natural swimming style is more in line with the feeding habits of larvae and juveniles, can actively induce predation behavior, and their nutritional composition is highly similar to natural prey, making them particularly suitable as the first food or early transitional food for small-mouthed fish larvae.
[0003] Marine copepods, as a specific type of copepod, mainly refer to copepod species that can be cultured in seawater or brackish water environments. They are small in size, have a short life cycle, reproduce rapidly, and are highly adaptable to the environment. They are easily fed to larvae and juvenile fish at all developmental stages, thus having outstanding value in the application of live feed for aquatic seedlings.
[0004] Current copepod culture techniques mainly focus on pond fertilization and water management, temperature and salinity control, feed combination optimization, culture density control, water exchange strategies, and harvesting methods. In closed culture systems, the population dynamics of marine copepods are influenced by a combination of factors, including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, feed quality, inoculation density, and light intensity. Inappropriate culture conditions can disrupt the natural feeding rhythms and diurnal activity cycles of copepods, leading to decreased feeding efficiency and physiological disturbances, ultimately causing significant fluctuations in yield per unit volume of water. This instability severely restricts the large-scale production and reliable supply of live feed. Therefore, establishing stable and efficient indoor culture techniques for copepod zooplankton is of great significance. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a method for culturing copepod zooplankton, which has the advantage of significantly increasing the yield of copepod zooplankton.
[0006] Another objective of this application is to provide the application of blue light sources in the culture of copepod zooplankton.
[0007] To solve the aforementioned technical problems / achieve the aforementioned objectives, or at least partially solve the aforementioned technical problems / achieve the aforementioned objectives, as a first aspect of this application, a method for culturing copepods (zombie zooplankton) is provided, comprising: The culture water was inoculated with copepod zooplankton and fed with microalgae for cultivation until the copepod zooplankton reached a harvestable density; during the cultivation process, the culture water was irradiated with a blue light source in an alternating light and dark manner. Optionally, the copepod zooplankton includes marine copepods.
[0008] Optionally, the culture water body includes natural seawater and / or artificial seawater.
[0009] Optionally, the salinity of the culture water is 15‰ to 25‰, the water temperature is 24 to 30℃, the pH is 7.5 to 8.5, and the dissolved oxygen is not less than 5 mg / L.
[0010] Optionally, the density of the microalgae in the culture water is maintained at 20 × 10⁻⁶. 4 ~200×10 4 cells / mL.
[0011] Optionally, the blue light source is positioned at one or more locations: directly above the culture water, above the side of the culture water, or outside the container containing the culture water.
[0012] Optionally, the peak wavelength of the blue light source is 455–465 nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is no greater than 30 nm.
[0013] Optionally, the photon flux density at the surface of the culture water is 5–25 μmol / (m²). 2 ·s).
[0014] Optionally, the alternation of light and dark may include a 12-hour light period and a 12-hour dark period per day.
[0015] As a second aspect of this application, the application of blue light source in culturing copepod zooplankton is provided.
[0016] Based on conventional water quality management and microalgae feeding, this application uses a specific wavelength of blue light to alternately illuminate and darken the culture water of copepod zooplankton. By stimulating the water with a specific narrow-band blue light source, the internal reproductive mechanism of copepods is regulated and optimized, which effectively increases the population density of copepods and has the advantage of significantly improving the yield and production efficiency of copepod zooplankton culture. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1The figure shows a line graph of population density variation of seawater Cyclops under different light quality conditions; the wavelength of the light source for the blue light group was 455–465 nm, the wavelength of the light source for the white light group was 380–780 nm, and the wavelength of the light source for the red light group was 625–635 nm; all treatments used the same water temperature, salinity, microalgae feeding, initial inoculation density, and 12 h light / 12 h dark cycle. Detailed Implementation
[0018] This application discloses a method for culturing copepod zooplankton such as *Dendrocalamus* and the application of a blue light source. Those skilled in the art can refer to this document and appropriately modify the process parameters to achieve the desired results. It is particularly important to note that all similar substitutions and modifications are obvious to those skilled in the art and are considered to be included in this application. The products, processes, and applications described in this application have been described through preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can obviously modify or appropriately change and combine the methods described herein without departing from the content, spirit, and scope of this application to implement and apply the technology of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0019] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second," "step 1" and "step 2," and "(1)" and "(2)" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. Moreover, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other without conflict.
[0020] Traditional methods for culturing copepods, under indoor conditions, often employ natural light, broadband white light, or general photoperiod control. However, unoptimized spectral or continuous irradiation conditions may be detrimental to the feeding activities and diurnal rhythm stability of copepods, leading to fluctuations in yield per unit volume of water and thus limiting population growth.
[0021] In this regard, in the first aspect of this application, a method for culturing copepod zooplankton is proposed. The method involves inoculating copepod zooplankton into a culture water body and feeding it with microalgae. During the culture process, the culture water body is irradiated with a blue light source in an alternating light and dark manner until the copepod zooplankton reaches a harvestable density. This effectively solves the problem of copepod yield fluctuation caused by poor lighting conditions in the prior art.
[0022] In the cultivation method described in this application, it is first necessary to inoculate copepods into the cultivation water and then feed them with microalgae. Specifically, the inoculation amount of copepods can be adjusted according to the cultivation scale and target yield, and the amount of microalgae fed can be empirically adjusted based on the feeding behavior of the copepods and the nutrient status of the cultivation water. For example, it can be fed at fixed times and in fixed quantities daily, or determined based on water transparency. The environmental parameters of the cultivation water, such as salinity, water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, can be maintained within the conventional range suitable for the survival and reproduction of copepods.
[0023] The cultivation process continues until the population of copepod zooplankton reaches a preset harvestable density. The harvestable density can be set according to actual application needs; for example, harvesting can begin when the copepod zooplankton density reaches a certain level. In practice, changes in copepod zooplankton density can be monitored by periodically sampling and counting to determine whether the harvesting criteria have been met.
[0024] Throughout the cultivation process, the culture water is illuminated with a blue light source in alternating light and dark cycles. The blue light source can be placed above or to the side of the culture water to ensure even light distribution. The switching on and off of the blue light source can be controlled by a timer controller to achieve the alternation of light and dark cycles. For example, it can be set to cycle through light and darkness once a day, with the duration of light and darkness adjusted empirically. The light intensity of the blue light source can be adjusted according to the depth of the culture water and the species of copepods to ensure they receive effective light stimulation.
[0025] The method for culturing copepods described in this application provides an optimized lighting environment for copepods by introducing alternating light and dark blue light sources. These specific lighting conditions help regulate the physiological rhythms and feeding behaviors of copepods, thereby promoting stable population growth and reproduction. Therefore, this method effectively solves the problems of copepod yield fluctuations and limited population growth caused by poor lighting conditions in existing indoor cultures, increasing the copepod yield per unit volume of water.
[0026] In certain embodiments of this application, the inoculation density of the copepod zooplankton is further proposed to be 0.5–3.0 ind / mL, for example, 0.5 ind / mL, 1.0 ind / mL, 1.5 ind / mL, 2.0 ind / mL, 2.5 ind / mL, 3.0 ind / mL, or any value between the two. The optimized inoculation density provides the best initial conditions for rapid population expansion. Within this density range, copepod individuals can maintain a suitable spatial distance, avoiding population growth lag caused by excessively low density, thus shortening the culture period, and effectively alleviating excessive competition for microalgae food and living space within the population caused by excessively high density, thereby preventing water quality deterioration and stunted individual development. In certain embodiments of this application, the present application further proposes that the copepods include marine copepods. These copepods are characterized by their typically small size, relatively short life cycle, rapid reproduction rate, and strong adaptability to the environment. These biological characteristics make them a preferred candidate for live feed in aquaculture. Specifically, the marine copepod refers to copepods suitable for indoor cultivation in seawater or brackish water conditions and capable of serving as live feed for aquatic seedlings.
[0027] In certain embodiments of this application, when the aforementioned copepod zooplankton is marine copepod, the culture water includes natural seawater and / or artificial seawater. Natural seawater refers to seawater directly taken from the ocean and appropriately treated (e.g., filtered, sterilized), with a complex and naturally balanced composition, providing comprehensive nutrition and a suitable osmotic pressure environment for copepods. Artificial seawater is prepared by dissolving a specific formula of sea salt in purified or deionized water. Its advantages include controllable composition, ease of standardization, and no geographical limitations. For example, commercially available synthetic sea salt formulas can be used to prepare artificial seawater with the required salinity according to the instructions; or, in some cases, to simulate the environment of a specific sea area, natural seawater and artificial seawater can be mixed in a certain proportion to balance the advantages of the natural environment and the controllability of the artificial environment.
[0028] In some embodiments of this application, the salinity of the culture water is further specified as 15‰ to 25‰, the water temperature as 24 to 30°C, the pH as 7.5 to 8.5, and the dissolved oxygen as not less than 5 mg / L. The salinity can be selected from 15‰, 16‰, 17‰, 18‰, 19‰, 20‰, 21‰, 22‰, 23‰, 24‰, 25‰, or any value between two of these. The water temperature can be selected from 24℃, 25℃, 26℃, 27℃, 28℃, 29℃, 30℃, or any value between two of these. The pH can be selected from 7.5, 7.6, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, or any value between two of these. The dissolved oxygen can be selected from not less than 5 mg / L, 6 mg / L, 7 mg / L, 8 mg / L, 9 mg / L, 10 mg / L, or any value between two of these. Optimizing the salinity, water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen of the culture water creates a highly suitable and stable indoor growth environment for copepod zooplankton. This environmental stability effectively ensures the normal physiological activities of copepod zooplankton, minimizes stress responses caused by environmental fluctuations, and thus optimizes their growth metabolism, feeding efficiency, and population reproduction rate.
[0029] In some embodiments of this application, it is further proposed that the density of the microalgae in the culture water be maintained at 20 × 10⁻⁶. 4 ~200×10 4 cells / mL, for example 20 × 10 4 cells / mL, 30×10 4 cells / mL, 40×10 4 cells / mL, 50×10 4 cells / mL, 60×10 4 cells / mL, 70×10 4 cells / mL, 80×10 4 cells / mL, 90×10 4 cells / mL, 100×10 4 cells / mL, 110×10 4 cells / mL, 120×10 4 cells / mL, 130×10 4 cells / mL, 140×10 4 cells / mL, 150×10 4 cells / mL, 160×10 4 cells / mL, 170×10 4 cells / mL, 180×104 cells / mL, 190×10 4 cells / mL, 200×10 4 The cell / mL value or any value between the two is used. The optimized microalgae density provides a stable and sufficient nutrient source for copepod zooplankton. This suitable density range ensures that there is always an adequate amount of microalgae food in the culture water for copepod zooplankton to feed on, effectively avoiding the problem of slow growth due to starvation caused by too low microalgae food density.
[0030] In certain embodiments of this application, the microalgae further include Chlorella and / or Microchondria. Chlorella is a single-celled green algae characterized by its small cell size, rapid reproduction rate, and comprehensive nutritional composition. It is rich in protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and various vitamins and minerals, providing balanced nutrition for copepod zooplankton. During cultivation, Chlorella is easily ingested and digested by copepods, helping to improve the utilization efficiency of microalgae feed. Microchondria is a single-celled marine microalga, known for its high content of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These fatty acids are key nutrients essential for the growth, development, and reproduction of copepod zooplankton. The moderate cell size of Microchondria also makes it easily ingested by copepods, significantly enhancing the nutritional value of copepods as aquatic feed.
[0031] In certain embodiments of this application, an optimized blue light source placement scheme is further proposed, wherein the blue light source is positioned at one or more locations: directly above the culture water, to the side above the culture water, or outside the container containing the culture water. When positioned directly above the culture water, the blue light source is 10–50 cm above the water surface, for example, 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, or any value between these two values. By precisely defining the spatial layout of the blue light source, the aim is to optimize the spatial distribution of light in the culture environment, thereby providing a more suitable growth light environment for copepods.
[0032] In some embodiments of this application, the peak wavelength of the blue light source is further specified as 455–465 nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is not greater than 30 nm.
[0033] The peak wavelength of the blue light source is 455–465 nm, meaning that the wavelength with the highest energy intensity in the light source spectrum is limited to the specific range of 455 nm to 465 nm. This precise wavelength selection aims to provide light stimulation that matches the physiological activities of copepods, thereby effectively regulating their feeding behavior, metabolic rate, and reproductive cycle, and increasing the population density of copepods. Achieving this peak wavelength can be achieved through methods including, but not limited to: using specific light-emitting diode (LED) chips with optimized materials and structures to emit high-intensity light within this wavelength range; or using a broadband blue light source in conjunction with a narrowband filter, selectively transmitting light in the 455 nm to 465 nm band.
[0034] A full width at half maximum (FWHM) of no more than 30 nm is an indicator of the spectral purity or narrow-band characteristics of a light source. Specifically, the spectral width at half the peak intensity is limited to no more than 30 nm. Limiting the FWHM to no more than 30 nm ensures that the light emitted by the blue light source has high monochromaticity, meaning the spectral components are concentrated near the target wavelength, avoiding interference from other non-target wavelengths. This narrow-band characteristic helps provide purer and more concentrated light stimulation, thereby more precisely regulating the circadian rhythms and physiological responses of copepods. Achieving this narrow FWHM can be achieved, but is not limited to: using high-quality narrow-spectrum LED light sources, whose luminescence characteristics inherently possess a small FWHM; or using precision optical elements such as optical interference filters or diffraction gratings to spectrally shape the light emitted by the source to obtain the desired narrow-band spectrum.
[0035] In some embodiments of this application, it is further proposed to control the photon flux density at the surface of the culture water body at 5–25 μmol / (m²). 2 ·s), for example 5 μmol / (m 2 ·s), 10 μmol / (m 2 ·s), 15 μmol / (m 2 ·s), 20 μmol / (m 2 ·s), 25 μmol / (m 2•s) or any value between the two. Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) refers to the number of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) photons passing through a unit area per unit time. This parameter directly reflects the light intensity received by the surface of the culture water. The photon flux density reaching the surface of the culture water can be controlled by directly changing the luminous intensity of the blue light source by adjusting its electrical power output; or, without changing the power of the light source itself, the light intensity at the water surface can be changed by adjusting the vertical distance between the blue light source and the surface of the culture water. In the cultivation of copepods, light not only affects their visual perception and feeding behavior, but also directly relates to the growth status of microalgae in the culture water, thus indirectly affecting the quality of microalgae supply. By optimizing the photon flux density within the above range, it is possible to ensure that the light intensity meets the needs of microalgae to maintain a certain density for copepod feeding, without causing photostress to copepods or causing fluctuations in the aquatic environment due to excessive light. In some embodiments of this application, the proposed light-dark alternation method includes a daily 12-hour light period and a 12-hour dark period. This light-dark alternation method aims to provide copepods with periodic light conditions that simulate their natural environment. Specifically, the daily 12-hour light period ensures that copepods can perform sufficient feeding and metabolic activities under light, while the subsequent 12-hour dark period allows them to rest, digest, and recover physiologically. This periodic light management can be achieved in various ways. For example, a programmable timer controller can be used, connected to a blue light source, and set to turn on the blue light source for 12 hours at a fixed time each day and turn it off for the following 12 hours. Alternatively, an automated light control system can be used, which can precisely control the switching on and off of the blue light source according to a preset schedule, ensuring the accurate execution of the daily light and dark cycle, thereby providing copepods with a stable diurnal rhythm signal.
[0036] In some embodiments of this application, it is further proposed that the photon flux density at the surface of the culture water during the dark period should not exceed 0.5 μmol / (m²). 2 Maintaining this extremely low level of photon flux density during the dark period can effectively eliminate the interference that stray light or weak light in the environment may cause to the physiological activities of copepods.
[0037] In certain embodiments of this application, a harvestable density of 4 ind / mL or higher is further proposed. Harvestable density refers to the minimum individual population concentration of copepods that allows for harvesting during the culture process. By setting a specific harvestable density threshold, a clear quantitative harvesting indicator is provided for the large-scale culture of copepods. In a blue light-controlled culture system, defining the harvestable density as 4 ind / mL or higher ensures that harvesting takes place when the copepod population reaches a certain biomass level. This effectively avoids the problems of insufficient population density due to premature harvesting affecting subsequent reproduction, or excessively high population density due to late harvesting leading to resource competition and limited growth.
[0038] In some embodiments of this application, a method for indoor cultivation of marine copepods for increased production is further provided, comprising: (1) Preparation of culture water: Add natural seawater, filtered seawater, disinfected seawater or artificial seawater into the culture container, filter it through a 100-500 mesh sieve or other conventional water treatment, adjust the salinity to 15‰-25‰, the water temperature to 24-30℃, and the pH to 7.5-8.5; make the dissolved oxygen not less than 5 mg / L by micro-aeration.
[0039] (2) Preparation and feeding of microalgae: Use F / 2 medium or other suitable microalgae culture medium to culture Chlorella, Microcystis suis or a combination of the two; when feeding, maintain the microalgae density in the culture water at 20×10⁻⁶. 4 ~200×10 4 cells / mL, preferably 50 × 10⁻⁶ 4 ~100×10 4 cells / mL.
[0040] (3) Inoculation of seawater daphnia: Inoculate the seawater daphnia seed source into the culture water. The initial inoculation density is 0.5 to 3.0 ind / mL, preferably 1.0 to 1.5 ind / mL. After inoculation, maintain micro-aeration to avoid strong water flow causing mechanical damage to the daphnia.
[0041] (4) Blue light irradiation control: An LED blue light source is set above, to the side above, or outside the culture container. The peak wavelength of the LED blue light source is 455–465 nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is preferably no greater than 30 nm. The photon flux density at the surface of the culture water is 5–25 μmol / (m²). 2 ·s), preferably 8–20 μmol / (m 2 ·s).
[0042] (5) Light-dark cycle control: The culture was carried out according to a light-dark cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day. During the light period, the LED blue light source was turned on, and during the dark period, the artificial light source was turned off and the water was shaded to ensure that the photon flux density at the surface of the culture water did not exceed 0.5 μmol / (m²) during the dark period. 2 ·s).
[0043] (6) Daily management and harvesting: During the cultivation period, observe the water color and insect activity, detect or record salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, supplement microalgae feed and correct salinity changes caused by evaporation; after 7 to 14 days of cultivation, when the density of seawater daphnia reaches more than 4 ind / mL, harvest by filtering with 300 to 500 mesh silk.
[0044] In a second aspect of this application, the application of a blue light source in culturing copepod zooplankton is proposed. The blue light source can be referred to the description in the first aspect of this application, and the copepod zooplankton include, but are not limited to, marine copepods.
[0045] In some embodiments of this application, under the same water temperature, salinity, microalgae feed, inoculation density, and light-dark cycle conditions, the population density of marine copepods after 12 days of culture in the 455–465 nm blue light group reached 4.2 ind / mL, which was higher than that of the white light group (2.6 ind / mL) and the red light group (1.3 ind / mL); the blue light group increased by approximately 61.5% compared to the white light group and by approximately 223.1% compared to the red light group.
[0046] In the comparative experiments provided in this application, unless otherwise specified, all experimental conditions and materials remain consistent to ensure comparability. Furthermore, all materials used in this application are commercially available.
[0047] The following provides a further explanation of the cultivation method for copepod zooplankton and the application of blue light source provided in this application.
[0048] Example 1: Cultivation of seawater copepods under 455–465 nm blue light and a 12 h:12 h light-dark cycle Natural seawater was filtered through a 300-500 mesh sieve and poured into a 40 L ox-tendon water storage tank, maintaining a water depth of at least 30 cm. The salinity was adjusted to 20‰ using sea salt, coarse salt, or aquaculture salt, and calibrated with a salinity meter. The culture water was micro-aerated using nano-air stones to maintain dissolved oxygen at no less than 7 mg / L; a heater was used to maintain the water temperature at 27℃ and the pH at approximately 8.0; after the water had stabilized for 24 hours, it was inoculated with seawater copepods.
[0049] Microalgae feed consists of *Chlorella vulgaris* or *Microcystis microsporum* cultured in F / 2 medium. After approximately 7 days of culture, the microalgae can be fed directly or concentrated by centrifugation and stored at 4°C for later use. Microalgae should be added daily during the culture process to maintain an algal density of 50 × 10⁻⁶ in the water. 4 ~100×10 4 cells / mL.
[0050] Marine copepods were introduced into the culture water at an initial inoculation density of 1.244 ind / mL. After inoculation, an LED blue light with a peak wavelength of 455–465 nm was installed 20–30 cm above the water surface directly above the inlet of the container. By adjusting the light source power and installation height, the photon flux density at the water surface was achieved to be 11 ± 1 μmol / (m²). 2 ·s).
[0051] During cultivation, a 12-hour light / 12-hour dark cycle should be followed, meaning the blue light source should be on for 12 hours daily, and the light source should be turned off and the environment should be darkened for 12 hours. The light period can be set from 08:00 to 20:00 daily, and the dark period from 20:00 to 08:00 the following day. During the dark period, strong diffused light from the room should be avoided from entering the cultivation container.
[0052] During the cultivation period, water color and microalgae activity were observed daily, and concentrated microalgae were replenished in a timely manner. Salinity was measured daily, and water loss due to evaporation was replenished with distilled water or fresh water to maintain salinity at around 20‰. Every 3 days, 20 mL samples were taken, fixed with Lugol's iodine solution, and counted under a microscope using a plankton counting frame to calculate the number of microalgae per milliliter of water.
[0053] Example 2: Comparative Experiment of Different Light Quality Treatments To verify the yield-enhancing effect of narrow-band blue light (455–465 nm), three treatments were set up: blue light, white light, and red light, with three parallel groups for each treatment. Except for the spectral conditions, all treatments used the same culture containers, salinity, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, microalgae feeding amount, initial inoculation density, and a 12-hour light / 12-hour dark cycle.
[0054] The blue light group used 455–465 nm LED blue light; the white light group used 380–780 nm broadband white light; and the red light group used 625–635 nm LED red light. The irradiation intensity of the three light sources was based on the measured photon flux density at the water surface, and a uniform 12-hour irradiation followed by 12-hour darkness cycle was implemented daily. The initial inoculation density was 1.244 ind / mL. 20 mL water samples were taken every 3 days, fixed with Lugol's reagent, and then microscopically counted. The results are shown in Table 1 below. Figure 1 .
[0055] Table 1
[0056] Table 1 and Figure 1 The results showed that, under the same temperature, salinity, microalgae food, inoculation density, and light-dark cycle conditions, the population density of the 455–465 nm blue light group reached 4.2 ind / mL after 12 days of cultivation, which was higher than that of the white light and red light groups. The blue light group showed an increase of approximately 61.5% compared to the white light group and approximately 223.1% compared to the red light group, indicating that the combination of narrow-band blue light (455–465 nm) and a 12-hour light / 12-hour dark light-dark cycle can promote the population growth of *Coelacanth*.
[0057] Example 3: Application under expanded culture conditions When implementing the cultivation method of this application in an indoor culture container of 10–200 L, the number, power, and installation position of the LED blue light source can be adjusted according to the water depth, culture area, and container shape to maintain the photon flux density at the water surface or the main culture water layer at 8–20 μmol / (m²). 2 •s), and use a timer to control 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness per day.
[0058] The salinity of the culture water can be controlled at 15‰–25‰, the water temperature at 25–29℃, the initial inoculation density at 0.5–3.0 ind / mL, and the microalgae density maintained at 50 × 10⁻⁶. 4 ~100×10 4 After culturing for 7–14 days, when the density of seawater copepods reaches 4–5 ind / mL or higher, they can be harvested by filtering through a 300–500 mesh sieve.
[0059] When the culture container is deep or the water surface area is large, multiple LED blue light sources can be arranged in zones, or a combination of top and side illumination can be used to improve the uniformity of the light field. In actual production, the height and number of light sources can be adjusted according to the measured value of photon flux density, but the spectral peak, light intensity range, and light-dark cycle should be kept within the limits of the culture method of this application.
[0060] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.
Claims
1. A method for culturing copepods, characterized in that, include: The culture was carried out by inoculating copepod zooplankton into the culture water and feeding microalgae until the copepod zooplankton reached a harvestable density. During the cultivation process, the culture water is irradiated with a blue light source using alternating light and dark methods.
2. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The zooplankton species mentioned include marine copepods.
3. The cultivation method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The culture water includes natural seawater and / or artificial seawater.
4. The cultivation method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The culture water has a salinity of 15‰ to 25‰, a temperature of 24 to 30℃, a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, and dissolved oxygen of not less than 5 mg / L.
5. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The density of the microalgae in the culture water was maintained at 20 × 10⁻⁶. 4 ~200×10 4 cells / mL.
6. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blue light source is positioned at one or more locations: directly above the culture water, above the side of the culture water, or outside the container containing the culture water.
7. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The peak wavelength of the blue light source is 455–465 nm, and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is no greater than 30 nm.
8. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The photon flux density at the surface of the culture water is 5–25 μmol / (m²). 2 ·s).
9. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The alternation of light and dark includes a 12-hour light period and a 12-hour dark period each day.
10. Application of blue light source in culturing copepod zooplankton.