PhD student in Biology National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), Tunisia
The study focuses on valuing marine resources in the southern Tunisian lake by extracting and exploiting valuable biomolecules from co- cultivated Daphnia and microalgae, mainly, alternative proteins, in order to enhance human health. Daphnia is commonly used as a model in aquaculture due to its high productivity and adaptability to particular cultivation conditions, as well as its high nutritional content, which consists primarily of 45-70% of proteins and other nutrients obtained from microalgae serving as its main food source. Throughout this work, water sampling offers a preliminary investigation of several species of native planktons and their density. Following this, a process of isolation, morphological identification, and cultivation is carried out. Experiment plans are designed based on the adjustment of many critical factors, including the nutrient type and concentration, pH, salinity, and light intensity, in order to promote the growth of Daphnia individuals. Simultaneously, several modifications of media culture are performed to promote Tetraselmis proliferation because it is the most abundant local phytoplankton that serves as Daphnia's nutrition source.