Comparative dataset on growth, development and reproductive performance of copepod (Cyclops sp.) fed with different microalgae diet

The effects of growth and reproduction on the marine <i>Cyclops</i> sp. were investigated using three microalgae as diets. The development period of <i>Cyclops</i> sp. was evaluated at 10⁶ cells/ml in 15ppt salinity to identify the stationary phase. The survival rate of marine <i>Cyclops</i> from nauplius to adult differed according to the microalgal diet. The results showed that the shortest time (14 days) and highest survival (17.6 ± 0.131 %) for <i>Cyclops</i> sp. was achieved with those fed with <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. Whereas, it took longest time (37 days) and lowest survival rate (6.40 ± 0.035 %) when fed C<i>hlamydomonas</i> sp. The developmental period from naupli (I - VI) (6.91 ± 0.453 days), copepodite (I - VI) (11.4 ± 0.311days) and naupli to adult (20 ± 1.08 days) appeared significantly longer when fed with <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. compared to other treatments. The daily mean naupli production of adult females over 7 days was significantly higher (<i>p</i> ˂ 0.05) in <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. compared with <i>Chlamydomonas</i> sp. and <i>Gonyostomum</i> sp. On the 25th day of <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. treatment, 99 % of the mature females died. Production (naupli, copepodite adult male and adult female) was significantly higher (<i>p</i> ˂ 0.05) in <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. than in other microalgal diets. On the fifteenth day, <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. showed a significantly higher (<i>p</i> ˂ 0.05) specific growth rate than other microalgal diets. <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. had the highest nauplius survival rate on the sixth day compared to other microalgal diets. With <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp<i>.</i>, the species has a higher hatching rate, and in <i>Chlamydomonas</i> sp. hatching occurs earlier. The average lifespan for <i>Nannochloropsis</i> sp. was 46 days, for <i>Chlamydomonas</i> sp. it was 37 days, and for <i>Gonyostomum</i> sp. it was 32 days.