Species guide

Pavlova

By Orr Biologicals · August 31, 2026 · 5 min read

Illustration of Pavlova cells with flagella and haptonema
Illustration, not a micrograph: Pavlova-type cells with their swimming appendages.

Pavlova is the quieter half of the hatchery flagellate duo. Where Isochrysis gets the fame, Pavlova gets the broodstock tanks: a small haptophyte with an EPA-plus-DHA profile that marine larvae and broodstock convert into eggs, and a tolerance for salinity swings that makes it practical in real, imperfect water systems.

What it is
A small, motile haptophyte flagellate and one of the classic bivalve hatchery feeds.
Taxonomic group
Haptophyta (Pavlovales); Pavlova lutheri is the cultured workhorse.
Typical appearance
Tiny golden-green ovoid cells with flagella plus the haptophyte 'haptonema'.
Typical size
Cells roughly 4–8 µm.
Culture characteristics
Grows well in standard marine media; notable for tolerating a wide salinity range. Less forgiving of neglect than Nannochloropsis.
Major applications
Bivalve larval and broodstock feeds, copepod diets, omega-3 enrichment of zooplankton.
Typical users
Bivalve and oyster hatcheries, live-feed rooms, copepod culturists, phytoplankton suppliers.

Why aquaculture values it

Pavlova holds a permanent slot in bivalve hatcheries: it is one of the few species whose lipids suit both larval growth and broodstock conditioning, and its cells are the right size for the smallest feeding stages. Its salinity tolerance also makes it convenient where water chemistry drifts. See our direct comparison in Pavlova vs Isochrysis.

Nutrition and important compounds

Pavlova is valued for a balanced long-chain fatty-acid profile — meaningful amounts of both EPA and DHA — which is rarer than it sounds. It is a standard enrichment vehicle: zooplankton fed on Pavlova pass those fatty acids to the larvae that eat them.

A note on culture parameters

Published composition and growth figures for Pavlova differ between strains and studies. Treat any specific density, temperature or harvest number as a starting hypothesis for your own culture, not a property of the species.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pavlova hard to culture?

It is moderately demanding — easier than Rhodomonas, less indifferent to neglect than Nannochloropsis. Clean technique and steady conditions suit it.

What do strain designations like 'Pavlova 410' mean?

They identify specific isolates held by culture collections. Strains of the same species can differ measurably in growth and composition.

Can Pavlova replace Isochrysis in a feed protocol?

Sometimes, but not blindly — the fatty-acid balance changes. See our comparison article for what to watch.

Further reading