GROWTH DYNAMICS OF COPEPODS (SUBORDER CALANOIDA) POPULATIONS IN BASINS AND PONDS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES OF CULTURE MEDIUM FROM THE KERCH STRAIT WATERS
Copepods density dynamics at different temperatures of culture medium was studied. Cultivation of copepods was carried out using formula feeds, based on organic and inorganic fertilizers, micronutrients and vitamins. Based on the population state, volume of the introduced formula feed was calculated. For the culture purposes fiberglass vats and ground-excavated ponds were used. The sea water from the Kerch Strait served as culture medium. The data sample on the temperature of culture medium was taken for the same number of cultivation days (48-56). Data on density dynamics of copepods in vats and ponds at different temperatures of culture medium are given. Results were obtained in the process of mass cultivation of copepods as live feed for marine fish larvae. During their cultivation, a food factor (their feeding) served as the main indicator of changes in density of copepods in the context of their cultivation at any temperature of aquatic medium. Another important indicator, giving evidence of the density increase, was represented by the factor of the culture environmental conditions, which are highly specific for each species. Under the same temperature range, copepods increase their density in ponds more rapidly than in tanks. Studying the copepods density dynamics at different temperatures of culture medium has shown that the increase in copepod density occurs even under suboptimal temperature of culture medium (12-19 °C), as well as under optimal temperature regime (20-24 °C)