author(s)
Castro MJ, Castro MG, Flores GAF, Rivera RAO and Martínez MAM

abstract
Present work was made to know population growth of Daphnia pulicaria fed with four experimental diets with chlorophytes and diatoms microalgae during 60 culture days in 200 L plastic beakers with an initial density of 500 organisms. Used experimental diets were: 1) Chlorophytes 100%; 2) Diatoms 100%; 3) Chlorophytes 25%, Diatoms 75%; and 4) Chlorophytes 75%, Diatoms 25%. With Chlorophytes 100% diet the organisms died at the sixth culture day. Diatoms 100% obtained the highest density with 18,221 org 160 L^-1, meanwhile, the lowest density was in diet Chlorophytes 75% and Diatoms 25% with 10,761 org 160 L^-1. Ro variable fluctuated between 3,443-5,869 per female. Tc variable fluctuated between 16.30-16.49; days and r variable fluctuated between 0.50-0.53. ANOVA test showed significant differences (P<0.05) between all densities from the four experimental diets. In D. pulicaria culture case it is recommendable the use of diatoms for their optimal growing in laboratory systems.