The Nutritional Profiles of Hydralife's Phytoplankton to Develop Your Zooplankton and Promote Abundance in Your Fishery

The following contains nutritional information on Hydralife's phytoplankton. Water managers utilize these beneficial phtyoplankton to consume excess nutrients in order to impede the development of toxic algae. As a result, they phytoplankton also make great food for zooplankton populations which develops your entire aquatic food web and fishery.

If there is a phytoplankton that your would like us to cultivate for your body of water please contact us directly at service@hydralifesolutions.com

Selenastrum:

Protein and Amino Acids:

Selenastrum contains substantial protein content, typically ranging from 40-50% of dry weight, providing essential amino acids that zooplankton require for growth and reproduction. This protein-rich composition makes it comparable to other premium phytoplankton species used in aquaculture.

Lipids and Fatty Acids: While not as lipid-rich as some marine phytoplankton, Selenastrum produces polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These compounds are crucial for zooplankton development, particularly for species like Daphnia, which cannot synthesize these fatty acids independently.

Vitamins and Minerals: This green alga synthesizes B-vitamins, vitamin E, and accumulates essential minerals including iron, zinc, and selenium. The presence of these micronutrients enhances its palatability and digestibility for filter-feeding zooplankton.

Cell Size and Digestibility: With cell dimensions typically between 8-14 micrometers, Selenastrum falls within the optimal size range for consumption by most freshwater zooplankton species. Its thin cell wall and lack of toxic secondary metabolites make it highly digestible.

Scenedesmus

Protein Content

Scenedesmus contains remarkably high protein levels, typically ranging from 50-60% of its dry weight, making it one of the most protein-rich natural food sources available to herbivorous zooplankton. This protein is rich in essential amino acids that support zooplankton growth, reproduction, and survival.

Lipids and Fatty Acids

The algae produces polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are critical for zooplankton development and overall health. These fatty acids cannot be synthesized by most zooplankton and must be obtained from their diet, making Scenedesmus particularly valuable.

Vitamins and Minerals

Scenedesmus is a rich source of B-vitamins, vitamin E, and carotenoids (including beta-carotene and astaxanthin), which support immune function and reproductive success in zooplankton. The algae also provides essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Digestibility

The relatively thin cell walls of Scenedesmus compared to some other algae make it more easily digestible for many zooplankton species, improving nutrient assimilation efficiency and supporting higher growth rates in consumer populations.

Chlorella Vulgaris

Protein Content

This microalgae contains between 50-60% protein by dry weight, making it one of the most protein-rich organisms on Earth. Beyond protein, chlorella provides essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids that zooplankton cannot synthesize themselves but require for growth, reproduction, and proper membrane function.

Chlorella also delivers a comprehensive vitamin package including B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E, along with essential minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. These micronutrients support critical physiological processes in zooplankton, from enzyme function to exoskeleton development. The carotenoid pigments found in chlorella, including lutein and beta-carotene, provide antioxidant protection and contribute to the health and coloration of organisms throughout the food web.

Chlorella vulgaris - an excellent food source for zooplankton and other small organisms.

The digestibility of chlorella makes these nutrients readily available to zooplankton. Studies have shown that various zooplankton species, including rotifers, cladocerans like Daphnia, and copepods, thrive when fed diets containing C. vulgaris. The small cell size (typically 2-10 micrometers in diameter) makes it an ideal food source for filter-feeding zooplankton, which can efficiently capture and consume these nutritious cells.

Ankistrodesmus

Protein and Amino Acids

Ankistrodesmus typically contains high protein levels, often comprising 40-50% of its dry weight. This protein is rich in essential amino acids that zooplankton cannot synthesize themselves, making the algae an excellent nutritional match for herbivorous and omnivorous zooplankton species.

Lipids and Fatty Acids

The lipid content of Ankistrodesmus generally ranges from 10-20% of dry weight, though this can vary with environmental conditions and nutrient availability. Importantly, this genus produces polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for zooplankton growth, reproduction, and overall fitness. These fatty acids are transferred up the food chain, ultimately supporting fish populations and higher trophic levels.

Vitamins and Minerals

Ankistrodesmus accumulates various vitamins, particularly B-complex vitamins and vitamin E, along with essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. These micronutrients are vital for zooplankton metabolic processes, shell formation (in species like daphnids and copepods), and reproductive success.

Digestibility

The cell wall composition of Ankistrodesmus makes it relatively digestible compared to some other algae species. While not as easily consumed as soft algae like Cryptomonas, most zooplankton species can effectively graze on Ankistrodesmus and assimilate its nutrients efficiently.

Nannochloropsis limnetica

Protein Content: This species boasts a protein content ranging from 40-50% of its dry weight, providing essential amino acids that support zooplankton growth and reproduction.

Lipid Profile: Perhaps most importantly, N. limnetica contains significant levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These long-chain fatty acids are critical for zooplankton development, reproduction, and overall health. Many zooplankton species cannot synthesize these compounds themselves and must obtain them from their diet.

Vitamins and Minerals: The algae also provides essential vitamins and trace minerals that support metabolic functions in zooplankton consumers.

Digestibility: With its small cell size (typically 2-4 micrometers in diameter), circular in shape and with a relatively thin cell wall, N. limnetica is easily consumed and digested by a wide range of zooplankton species, from rotifers to copepods.

Chlamydomonas

Chlamydomonas species serve as a critical food source for zooplankton, providing essential nutrients that fuel freshwater food chains. These unicellular algae are packed with proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that make them highly digestible and nutritionally valuable for filter-feeding organisms.

The nutritional profile of Chlamydomonas includes high-quality proteins containing essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids that support zooplankton growth and reproduction, vitamins including B-complex vitamins and vitamin E, and carotenoid pigments with antioxidant properties. This rich nutrient composition makes Chlamydomonas an ideal primary producer, efficiently converting light energy and dissolved nutrients into biomass that sustains higher trophic levels. They are also a mobile phytoplankton with multiple flagella (whip like tails) that help propel them through water.