Reproductive Characteristics of Four Artemia Populations with Different Geographical Origin Fed on a Halophylic Unicellular Alga: Dunaliella tertiolecta

This study was conducted to investigate reproductive characteristics of four Artemia populations (A. urmiana, A. franciscana, Pakistan and Turkmenistan strains) cultured under the identical laboratory condition and fed on a unicellular alga. Cysts were hatched by standard methods and the nauplii from the populations were cultured in laboratory condition using 80 g/l salinity, 25±1ºC with photoperiod (12L: 12D). Dunalliella tertiolecta fed to all Artemia populations. To determine the reproductive characteristics, 30 pairs of adult Artemia of each population were randomly placed in 50ml conical falcons so that each conical falcon contains a pair of Artemia. The number of cysts and nauplii in each falcon were counted daily. All data were analysed using SPSS, one way ANOVA. The results showed that in all Artemia populations, the daily nauplii production were higher than cyst production. Also, during reproductive period, A. franciscana had the highest cyst production (639±105) and A. urmiana had the highest nauplii production (78.5±7). The highest and the lowest birth rate were related to A. franciscana (1225±193) and Turkmenistan strain (362±29), respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that A. urmiana and A. franciscana were perefered species for cysts production. Turkmenistan strain was not recommended for production plans, due to low cysts and nauplii production.