Effect of salinity on reproduction model of Artemia in Urmia Lake

Bisexual Artemia in Urmia lake is a native species that is very important in biodiversity and phylogeny aspects. In this paper, effect of salinity on reproduction model of Artemia urmiana from 1995 till 2002 were studied. Urmia lake water salinity was increased affected from low precipitation in recent drought years, in november of 2001 it became more than 300ppt and transparency of water in some stations were maseaured as their depth. In sampling it was determined, in natural condition, same as artificial condition, some stresses such as high salinity and reduction in food availabe, shifted reproduction model of Artemia from ovovivipariety to ovipariety.According to data analysis there are significant differences (P<0.05) between two groups of salinity, less and more than 172ppt and oviparous percentages of Artemia urmiana.