High-temperature adapted Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) from Vietnam is a suitable strain for inoculation in temperate conditions of Bohai Bay Saltworks, China

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate if the productive but high-temperature adapted Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) strain from Vietnam can be used in the biological management of the more temperate conditions of the Bohai Bay salt ponds, P.R. China. For this purpose, the effect of culture temperature (14, 25 and 33°C) and feeding level (100, 50 and 25% of optimal feeding level) on survival, length, and reproductive traits of the autochthonous parthenogenetic Artemia from Bohai Bay, China (BHB), bisexual A. franciscana originating from San Francisco Bay, CA, U.S.A. (SFB) and Vinh Chau A. franciscana from Vietnam (VCSFB), were tested. Survival rates of the three populations were not significantly affected by the feeding level at each culture temperature ( P > 0 . 05 ). At higher temperature the survival of the two bisexual populations was better than that of the parthenogenetic population. On the other hand, the length of Artemia was significantly affected by the feeding level at each culture temperature and higher feeding levels resulted in greater length ( P < 0 . 05 ). No reproduction occurred in any strain at 14°C. At 25°C, reproductive traits were significantly affected by the feeding level. The bisexual populations produced more offspring than parthenogenetic Artemia. SFB Artemia tended towards oviparity, whilst VSSFB and BHB produced more nauplii. At 33°C, all strains produced less offspring and tended to produce more nauplii than cysts. Our data provide evidence that, compared to the local parthenogenetic Artemia, the high-temperature adapted Artemia strain from Vietnam may be a more effective colonizer of the temperate Bohai Bay saltworks.