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Benefits of Having Increased Populations of Copepods,
Amphipods and Rotifers in a Marine Reef Aquarium
By Stuart Schofield, June 2008
There are many benefits, besides creating a natural environment for reef inhabitants,
to having increased populations of select Copepod, Amphipod and Rotifer (Brachionus
plicatilis) genre in a Marine Reef Aquarium.
Rotifers serve as a food source for
Copepods and larval fish, whereas Copepods serve as a food source for Amphipods,
many SPS corals and some fish.
As a food source for SPS corals and Gorgonians, Copepods are either directly consumed
or provide feed as a byproduct of their biological function. Amphipods are typically
eaten by fish and crabs.
The most notable benefit to the marine reef aquarium of the Copepod, Amphipod and
Rotifer is their combined continuous exploitation of sestonic foods, such as phytoplankton,
fungi and free-living bacteria (Starkweather, 1980a).
As stated, beyond being a live natural food source for fish and corals, Copepods
are a natural consumer of diatomous algae and both Copepods and Amphipods eat detritus,
two things that most marine aquarists want to keep in check within their closed
systems.
Notes of Interest:
- In the oceans, the densest populations of Rotifers are found in nearshore coastal
waters near estuary outlets, typically ranging from 16km out and becoming more dense
closer to shore (Fradkin, 2001). In areas where Copepod populations are high the
Rotifer populations are low.
- One rotifer eats 25 Paramecium per day (Maly, 1969).
- Studies have shown that up to 0.1 ppm Uranium will increase
the growth of marine Amphipods by as much as 23%.
Copepod (cop-ay-pod):
A small planktonic crustacean, member of the order Copepoda. Present in both Freshwater
and Marine environments.
Amphipod (æmfi .pod):
An omnivorous crustacean, member of the order Amphipoda.
Present in both Freshwater and Marine environmnets.
Rotifer (row-tee-fer):
A near-microscopic, between 40 and 200 micrometers, multicellular organism, member
of the phylum Rotifera. Present in both Freshwater and Marine environments.
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