Food Requirements
Moina feed on various groups of bacteria, yeast, phytoplankton
and detritus (decaying organic matter). Bacterial
and fungal cells rank high in food value. Populations of
Moina grow most rapidly in the presence of adequate
amounts of bacterial and yeast cells as well as phytoplankton.
Moina are one of the few zooplankton which can utilize
the blue-green algae Microcystis aeruginosa. Both plant and
animal detritus may provide energy for the growth and
reproduction of Moina. The food value of detritus depends
on its origin and diminishes with the age of the detritus