Ecological observations and
biomass proximate composition of the brine shrimp Artemia
(Crustacea: Anostraca) from Pichilingue, Baja California Sur, México
L.C.A.
Naegel, S. Rodríguez-A.-2002
Hydrobiologia, 486 (1): 185-190
Abstract:
The brine shrimp, most probably Artemia
franciscana occurs in the solar salt plant (`salina') of Pichilingue
(24°15′N
and 110°20′W,
total area about 10 ha), Baja California Sur, México.
During the periods September 1999 to March 2000 and June 2000 to March 2001,
salinity and temperature were determined weekly in selected evaporation
ponds, as were the biological parameters of Artemia biomass, size
of adult females and males, and monthly the biochemical composition of dried
Artemia biomass. An explosive growth of Artemia was
observed during moderate salinity levels (80–120
g l-1), reaching a standing crop level of 300 kg wet weight ha-1.
With increasing salinity, biomass production and the size, especially of the
females, decreased drastically, probably due to limited availability of
natural food and to environmental stress. Brine shrimp survived up to a
salinity of 270 g l-1. Despite wide variations in the
environmental conditions, the proximate analysis of Artemia biomass
showed only small differences, with the exception of the crude fibre
content.
(Centro
Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional,
Apdo. Postal 592, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23096 México)