Biological Characteristics of Artemia Parthenogenetic Populations (Crustacea Anostraca) from Algeria: Survival, Growth and Reproduction

The brine shrimp Artemia is an important live feed used worldwide in shrimp and fish larviculture. Parthenogenetic strains are less known and less used, compared to bisexual, owing to their larger size and their dominant ovoviviparous mode of reproduction. The life cycles of Artemia parthenogenetic population from two Algerian salterns (Sidi Bouziane and Bethioua) were studied under laboratory conditions in order to provide additional data for future management of aquaculture farming. Individuals were reared at a salinity of 120g l^-1and a temperature of 24°C and fed with baker’s yeast and a vitamin complex. Survival rate, growth, adult size and reproduction traits were determined.  Survival rate of 50% was attained after 10 days, and the growth rate was 0.19mmday^-1 for both populations. Adults lengths were 8278± 489 and 8710± 551.0 m for Sidi Bouziane and Bethioua, respectively. Females attained their first sexual maturity at 28 to 30 days of experiments. Ovoviviparity was the dominant reproduction mode (>75% of all cases) in both populations. Mean fecundity was 23.5± 14.9 and 24.82± 12.06 offsprings per female for Sidi Bouziane and Bethioua, respectively. Overall, the two populations showed similar life history traits. The suitability and the possible use of these parthenogenetic populations in aquaculture were discussed.