Artemia Franciscana Research Articles

Effects of desalination brine on the fecundity of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana fed on rice bran

Abstract Brine water drained from the desalination stations represents environmental concerns because of its extremely high salinity. Artemia (brine shrimp) is one of the crustaceans that can live in increased saline water. So, it can live in the desalination brine water. This study investigated the possibility of growing Artemia (Artemia franciscana), an essential live food for the aquaculture industry, in the brine water disposed of during the desalination process. Nine reproductive characteristics were examined for Artemia growing in desalination brine water, compared to seawater. Both types of water were brought from the Rumaila water desalination facility on the Mediterranean Sea in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt. The experiment included brine water of salinities: 50, 60, 70, and 80 ppt and two seawater salinities: 38 and 50 ppt. The food source used was the rice bran suspension to feed Artemia during the experiment. The results illustrated that the pre-reproductive and reproductive periods and % offspring encysted had higher values in higher salinities of brine water than seawater. The rate of offspring encysted in the brine water of 70 ppt reached 72.42%, followed by the brine water of 60 ppt. The results showed that the Artemia could grow in the brine water of the desalination plants till the adult stage. The results show no significant difference between both types of water in some variables.

Viability and hatchability of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana cysts after passing through the digestive system of eared grebes Podiceps nigricollis

Viability and hatchability of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana cysts after passing through the digestive system of eared grebes Podiceps nigricollis

Toxicity Evaluation of Iodine Disinfectant Inclusion on Mortality and Growth of Artemia franciscana Nauplii

Artemia franciscana nauplii is a source of nutrients and pathogen vectors due to the non-selective nature of the filter feeder. Prevention of pathogens is done by adding iodine disinfectant to suppress the emergence of bacteria. One way to find out if a substance is toxic is by testing the toxicity and lethal concentration (LC50) on A. franciscana nauplii. The aim of this study was to evaluate the disinfectant effect of iodine and determine the lethal concentration of iodine in 50% of A. franciscana nauplii (LC50). Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method using Artemia as test animal. The results of the toxicity test with several doses of iodine showed that the toxic threshold value for 96 hours was 20.31 ppm. The results were supported by the presence of stunted growth at a dose of 100 ppm by measuring the length and weight. The conclusion of this study is that the administration of iodine at several concentrations is toxic to A. franciscana nauplii if it exceeds 20.31 ppm and affects the growth of A. franciscana nauplii.

Acute toxicity assessment of nine organic UV filters using a set of biotests

UV filters in environmental compartments are a source of concern related to their ecotoxicological effects. However, little is known about UV filters’ toxicity, particularly those released into the environment as mixtures. Acute toxicity of nine organic UV filters benzophenone-1, benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3, 4-methoxy benzylidene camphor, octocrylene, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane was determined. UV filter solutions were tested as single, binary, and ternary mixtures of various compositions. Single solutions were tested using a set of bio tests, including tests on saline crustaceans (Artemia franciscana), freshwater crustaceans (Daphnia magna), marine bacteria (Aliivibrio fischeri), and freshwater plants (Lemna minor). The tests represent different stages of the trophic chain, and hence their overall results could be used to risk assessment concerning various water reservoirs. The toxicity of binary and ternary mixtures was analyzed using the standardized Microtox® method. Generally, organic UV filters were classified as acutely toxic. Octocrylene was the most toxic for Arthemia franciscana (LC50 = 0.55 mg L–1) and Daphnia magna (EC50 = 2.66–3.67 mg L–1). The most toxic against freshwater plants were homosalate (IC50 = 1.46 mg L–1) and octocrylene (IC50 = 1.95 mg L–1). Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EC50 = 1.38–2.16 mg L–1) was the most toxic for marine bacteria. The least toxic for crustaceans and plants were benzophenone-1 (EC50 = 6.15–46.78 mg L–1) and benzophenone-2 (EC50 = 14.15–54.30 mg L–1), while 4-methoxy benzylidene camphor was the least toxic for marine bacteria (EC50 = 12.97–15.44 mg L–1). Individual species differ in their sensitivity to the tested organic UV filters. An assessment of the toxicity of mixtures indicates high and acute toxicity to marine bacteria after exposition to a binary mixture of benzophenone-2 with octocrylene, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, or homosalate. The toxicity of mixtures was lower than single solutions predicting antagonistic interaction between chemicals.Graphical abstract

Characterisation and Analysis of Chitosan Extract from Artemia franciscana Using SEM, FT-IR and XRD Studies

Introduction: Artemia franciscana is one of the best animal models which is used in various fields. After the hatching of Artemia the shell wastes are used for Chitosan extraction. The extraction process consumes less time when compare with other shells because of its shell size.
 Materials and Methods: The Chitosan extract was prepared using Artemia shells. The Physico-chemical properties were analysed and characterization of Chitosan extract was done using SEM, XRD and FT-IR studies.The physicochemical properties of the extracted chitosan indicate that it has optimum values desirable for wound healing applications. Chitosan has high water and fat binding capacity that can help to maintain a moist environment on the wound surface and control inflammation, respectively. The degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan is critical in determining its biological activities. The DD value obtained in this study was 84.77%, indicating that the chitosan sample had a high degree of deacetylation. Outcomes: The morphology of the chitosan membrane is an important factor that influences its properties and potential applications, including wound healing.
 Results: The SEM images obtained in this study revealed that pure chitosan exhibited a nonporous, smooth membranous phase with dome-shaped orifices, microfibrils, and crystallites. The XRD analysis results suggest that the chitosan used in this study is highly crystalline, with both crystalline and amorphous regions enhancing its bioactivity and biocompatibility, making it a promising material for wide range of application in medicine. The crystalline and amorphous structure of Chitosan is analysed by the XRD, SEM and FT-IR reveals its wide range of applications in medicine.

The Haves and Have-Nots: The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore across Species.

The demonstration that F1FO (F)-ATP synthase and adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) can form Ca2+-activated, high-conductance channels in the inner membrane of mitochondria from a variety of eukaryotes led to renewed interest in the permeability transition (PT), a permeability increase mediated by the PT pore (PTP). The PT is a Ca2+-dependent permeability increase in the inner mitochondrial membrane whose function and underlying molecular mechanisms have challenged scientists for the last 70 years. Although most of our knowledge about the PTP comes from studies in mammals, recent data obtained in other species highlighted substantial differences that could be perhaps attributed to specific features of F-ATP synthase and/or ANT. Strikingly, the anoxia and salt-tolerant brine shrimp Artemia franciscana does not undergo a PT in spite of its ability to take up and store Ca2+ in mitochondria, and the anoxia-resistant Drosophila melanogaster displays a low-conductance, selective Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release channel rather than a PTP. In mammals, the PT provides a mechanism for the release of cytochrome c and other proapoptotic proteins and mediates various forms of cell death. In this review, we cover the features of the PT (or lack thereof) in mammals, yeast, Drosophila melanogaster, Artemia franciscana and Caenorhabditis elegans, and we discuss the presence of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and of other forms of cell death. We hope that this exercise may help elucidate the function(s) of the PT and its possible role in evolution and inspire further tests to define its molecular nature.

Biofouling inhibition by Staphylococcus aureus extracts and their potential use for paints.

For the control of biofouling, some paints based on compounds that are toxic to marine organisms have been used. There is an intensive search for biodegradable solutions that are friendly to non-target organisms. Bacteria have been shown to be a source of compounds with antifouling potential. In this work, the antifouling activity of a strain of Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. Extracts activity against biofilm-forming bacteria and the toxicity against Artemia franciscana were evaluated. The extracts were incorporated in a hard gel and a paint matrix, and they were exposed to the sea. In both the laboratory and field, we found that the compounds produced by S. aureus have antifouling activity. The non-toxicity of the tested extracts against Artemia franciscana nauplii suggests that the extracts obtained from S. aureus could have a low ecological impact over non-target organisms. Significant differences were found in the percentage of organisms cover in hard gels with extracts and control. After 90 days, important differences were also observed between the percentage of organisms cover of the paints that contained extracts and the control. Dichloromethane extract is the most effective for the inhibition or delay of the settlement of organisms For this reason, they could be used in matrices with different applications, such as in the shipping industry, aquaculture, or any other in which biofouling is a cause of inconvenience.

Phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity attributes of immobilized Bacillus cereus treated and untreated textile effluents on Vigna mungo seeds and Artemia franciscana larvae

The physicochemical attributes of textile effluents collected from secondary treatment stage was investigated in this study and also assess the biosorption potential of membrane immobilized Bacillus cereus and free form of Bacillus cereus on textile effluent through bioreactor model study to find a sustainable solution to manage the textile effluent as vital need. Furthermore, the phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity nature of treated and untreated textile effluents on Vigna mungo and Artemia franciscana larvae under laboratory conditions as a novel approach. The textile effluent physicochemical parameter analysis results showed that the properties such as colour (Hazen unit), pH, turbidity, As, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Cd, Cl, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, SO42−, and Zn were beyond the acceptable limits. Bacillus cereus immobilized on a polyethylene membrane eliminated greater amounts of dye (25.0 ± 1.3, 56.5 ± 1.8, 57.18 ± 1.5, and 54.34 ± 1.7 Hazen unit from An1, Ae2, Ve3, and So4 respectively) and pollutants (As: 0.9–2.0, Cd: 6–8, Cr: 300–450, Cu: 5–7, Hg: 0.1–0.7, Ni: 8–14, Pb: 4–5, and Zn: 4–8 mg L−1) from textile effluent in a week of biosorption investigation using a bioreactor model (batch type) compared to a free form of B. cereus on textile effluent. The phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity study results revealed that the membrane immobilized B. cereus treated textile effluent exposure showed reduced phytotoxicity and minimal cytotoxicity (including mortality) percentage compared with free form B. cereus treated and untreated textile effluents. These entire results conclude that the membrane immobilized B. cereus may considerably minimize/detoxify the harmful pollutants from the textile effluents. A large scale level biosorption approach need to be performed to validate the maximum pollutants removing potential of this membrane immobilized bacteria species and optimal conditions for effective remediation.

Morphometric and molecular sequencing evidence for the identification of Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) in Southern India

A native of North America, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana is now a very invasive foreign species that has already been imported to most of the world. Before the introduction of A. franciscana, Asia was home to a wide range of bisexual Artemia species, which is no longer the current case. The collected Artemia samples from salt pans in south India were subjected to exact species identification and determination of phylogeographic origin through morphometric and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The Artemia species was validated with the observation of spiny subspherical frontal knob and distinctive lateral triangular ovisac lobes with projections on its body. The phylogenetic analysis of these Artemia species from two sampling localities was carried out after nucleic acid sequencing. After DNA barcoding of the cytochrome oxidase COI gene, the samples were identified as belonging to A. franciscana.

Insights into the Microbicidal, Antibiofilm, Antioxidant and Toxicity Profile of New O-Aryl-Carbamoyl-Oxymino-Fluorene Derivatives.

The unprecedented increase in microbial resistance rates to all current drugs raises an acute need for the design of more effective antimicrobial strategies. Moreover, the importance of oxidative stress due to chronic inflammation in infections with resistant bacteria represents a key factor for the development of new antibacterial agents with potential antioxidant effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to bioevaluate new O-aryl-carbamoyl-oxymino-fluorene derivatives for their potential use against infectious diseases. With this aim, their antimicrobial effect was evaluated using quantitative assays (minimum inhibitory/bactericidal/biofilms inhibitory concentrations) (MIC/MBC/MBIC), the obtained values being 0.156-10/0.312-10/0.009-1.25 mg/mL), while some of the involved mechanisms (i.e., membrane depolarization) were investigated by flow cytometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by studying the scavenger capacity of DPPH and ABTS•+ radicals and the toxicity was tested in vitro on three cell lines and in vivo on the crustacean Artemia franciscana Kellog. The four compounds derived from 9H-fluoren-9-one oxime proved to exhibit promising antimicrobial features and particularly, a significant antibiofilm activity. The presence of chlorine induced an electron-withdrawing effect, favoring the anti-Staphylococcus aureus and that of the methyl group exhibited a +I effect of enhancing the anti-Candida albicans activity. The IC50 values calculated in the two toxicity assays revealed similar values and the potential of these compounds to inhibit the proliferation of tumoral cells. Taken together, all these data demonstrate the potential of the tested compounds to be further used for the development of novel antimicrobial and anticancer agents.

Identification and characterization of the Doublesex gene and its mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana.

Doublesex (DSX) proteins are members of the Doublesex/mab-3-related (DMRT) protein family and play crucial roles in sex determination and differentiation among the animal kingdom. In the present study, we identified two Doublesex (Dsx)-like mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana (Kellogg 1906), which are generated by the combination of alternative promoters, alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. The two transcripts exhibited sex-biased enrichment, which we termed AfrDsxM and AfrDsxF. They share a common region which encodes an identical N-terminal DNA-binding (DM) domain. RT-qPCR analyses showed that AfrDsxM is dominantly expressed in male Artemia while AfrDsxF is specifically expressed in females. Expression levels of both isoforms increased along with the developmental stages of their respective sexes. RNA interference with dsRNA showed that the knockdown of AfrDsxM in male larvae led to the appearance of female traits including an ovary-like structure in the original male reproductive system and an elevated expression of vitellogenin. However, silencing of AfrDsxF induced no clear phenotypic change in female Artemia. These results indicated that the male AfrDSXM may act as inhibiting regulator upon the default female developmental mode in Artemia. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses revealed that the unique DM domain of AfrDSXs can specifically bind to promoter segments of potential downstream target genes like AfrVtg. These data show that AfrDSXs play crucial roles in regulating sexual development in Artemia, and further provide insight into the evolution of sex determination/differentiation in sexual organisms.

Morphology and biometry of two Chinese diploid parthenogenetic Artemia populations with a special emphasis on the gonopods and frontal knobs of rare males

Morphological and biometric characters of rare males and females of two diploid parthenogenetic populations from Gahai Lake (GH) and Chengkou Saltern (CK-par) (China) were surveyed. The characters were compared with those of six bisexual species. The gonopod of rare males consists of a basal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the gonopod ends in a fine digitiform apex and is ornamented with numerous spines (distal gonopod spines). The number and height of spines on the posterior surface (posterior spines) are conspicuously larger than spines on the exo-lateral surface (exo-lateral spines). The morphology of distal gonopod spines of rare males is most closely related to Artemia urmiana, but posterior spines are apparently taller in the rare males than in A. urmiana. Frontal knobs of rare males are sub-spherical in lateral view, and sub-elliptic in frontal view. The large diameter against small diameter ratio of the frontal knob of GH is significantly larger than that of CK-par. The number of frontal knob spines in rare males is close to that of Artemia salina, Artemia franciscana and Artemia persimilis, but significantly smaller than that of Artemia sinica, Artemia tibetiana and A. urmiana. The number of solitary spines of GH is significantly smaller than that of CK-par. Discriminant analyses using 13 parameters in females and 24 parameters in males show that GH and CK-par are close to each other but divergent from bisexual species. The analytical result based on male genital parameters is likely to be more coincident with the molecular phylogeny than that based on the non-sex-related parameters.

Comparative genomics of Hox and ParaHox genes among major lineages of Branchiopoda with emphasis on tadpole shrimps

Hox and ParaHox genes (HPHGs) are key developmental genes that pattern regional identity along the anterior–posterior body axis of most animals. Here, we identified HPHGs in tadpole shrimps (Pancrustacea, Branchiopoda, Notostraca), an iconic example of the so-called “living fossils” and performed a comparative genomics analysis of HPHGs and the Hox cluster among major branchiopod lineages. Notostraca possess the entire Hox complement, and the Hox cluster seems to be split into two different subclusters, although we were not able to support this finding with chromosome-level assemblies. However, the genomic structure of Hox genes in Notostraca appears more derived than that of Daphnia spp., which instead retains the plesiomorphic condition of a single compact cluster. Spinicaudata and Artemia franciscana show instead a Hox cluster subdivided across two or more genomic scaffolds with some orthologs either duplicated or missing. Yet, branchiopod HPHGs are similar among the various clades in terms of both intron length and number, as well as in their pattern of molecular evolution. Sequence substitution rates are in fact generally similar for most of the branchiopod Hox genes and the few differences we found cannot be traced back to natural selection, as they are not associated with any signals of diversifying selection or substantial switches in selective modes. Altogether, these findings do not support a significant stasis in the Notostraca Hox cluster and further confirm how morphological evolution is not tightly associated with genome dynamics.

Interactions of Bisphenol A with Artemia franciscana and the ameliorative effect of probiotics

In the present study, the bidirectional interactions of Artemia franciscana with BPA, administered either alone or following treatment with the probiotics Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus lactis or Lactobacillus plantarum, were evaluated. A 24 h exposure to BPA below LC50 induced oxidative stress to Artemia, indicated by diminished activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase and phenoloxidase, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased survival. Probiotic treatment prior to BPA exposure, led to increased survival, reduced lipid peroxidation and increased enzyme activities. BPA quantification in Artemia and its culture medium, showed a time dependent reduction in its levels, more evident in probiotic series, indicating its biotransformation. ESI-MS analysis confirmed the presence of the tentative BPA metabolites hydroquinone and BPA-sulfate, while BPA-disulfate formation was confirmed in only in the probiotic series. Our results provide evidence that probiotics alleviate the oxidative stress response induced by BPA, by enhancing the BPA biotransformation ability of Artemia.

The Interactive Antimicrobial Activities of Selected South African Terminalia spp. Extracts in Combination with Conventional Antibiotics against Gastrointestinal Pathogens

Background: Recent declines in new antibiotic discovery and the increase in antibiotic resistance have resulted in failing against bacterial pathogens. To develop novel antibiotic therapies, medical researchers have begun to focus on traditional therapies. Combinational therapies consisting of medicinal plants and conventional antibiotics may reactivate current drugs that are otherwise ineffective against antibioticresistant bacteria. Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex DC, Terminalia prunioides Laws. and Terminalia gazensis Bak. f. are native South African plants with antimicrobial properties. However, combinations of Terminalia sericea, Terminalia prunioides and Terminalia gazensis with conventional antibiotics are yet to be evaluated for growth inhibitory activity against gastrointestinal pathogens. Methods: Terminalia spp. leaves were extracted with solvents of varying polarity. Antimicrobial screening was performed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Toxicity was measured using Artemia franciscana nauplii lethality assays. Results: All extracts (except the T. sericea extracts) showed low to moderate inhibitory activity against B. cereus and E. faecalis, A. faecalis, A. hydrophilia, S. sonnei and S. newport in both the disc diffusion and liquid dilution assay. Twenty-three extract/antibiotic combinations produced synergy, 26 were additive, 24 were non-interactive and seven were antagonistic. Most of the antagonist interactions occurred in combinations containing gentamicin. All extracts were either non-toxic or of low toxicity in the Artemia bioassay. Conclusion: Terminalia spp. extracts may mimic the actions of a resistance modifying agents, enhancing the activity of several antibiotics that are relatively ineffective alone. Further studies are required to identify the bioactive and potentiating components and their mechanisms of action.

Calibration of an acute toxicity model for the marine crustacean, Artemia franciscana, nauplii to support oil spill effect assessments

Oil spill risk and impact assessments rely on time-dependent toxicity models to predict the hazard of the constituents that comprise crude oils and petroleum substances. Dissolved aromatic compounds (ACs) are recognized as a primary driver of aquatic toxicity in surface spill exposure scenarios. However, limited time-dependent toxicity data are available for different classes of ACs to calibrate such models. This study examined the acute toxicity of 14 ACs and 3 binary AC mixtures on Artemia franciscana nauplii at 25 °C. Toxicity tests for 3 ACs were also conducted at 15 °C to evaluate the role of temperature on toxicity. The ACs investigated represented parent and alkylated homocyclic and nitrogen-, sulfur- and oxygen-containing heterocyclic structures with octanol-water partition coefficients (log Kow) ranging from 3.2 to 6.6. Passive dosing was used to expose and maintain concentrations in toxicity tests which were confirmed using fluorometry, and independently validated for 6 ACs using GC–MS analysis. Mortality was assessed at 6, 24, and 48 h to characterize the time course of toxicity. No mortality was observed for the most hydrophobic AC tested, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, due to apparent water solubility constraints. Empirical log LC50 s for the remaining ACs were fit to a linear regression with log Kow to derive a critical target lipid body burden (CTLBB) based on the target lipid model. The calculated 48 h CTLBB of 47.1 ± 8.1 μmol/g octanol indicates that Artemia nauplii exhibited comparable sensitivity to other crustaceans. A steep concentration-response was found across all compounds as evidenced by a narrow range (1.0–3.1) in the observed LC50 /LC10 ratio. Differences in toxicokinetics were noted, and no impacts of temperature-dependence of AC toxicity were found. Toxicity data obtained for individual ACs yielded acceptable predictions of observed binary AC mixture toxicity. Results from this study advance toxicity models used in oil spill assessments.

Mushrooms to live or die: toxicity of some Basidiomycota using Artemia franciscana.

Consumption of wild mushrooms has increased in recent years; however, not all of them are edible and there is no precise information on those that may cause poisoning. Therefore, studies to obtain data about their toxicity are needed. For this purpose, we used the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, a crustacean employed in toxicity tests and with wide application in the toxin detection, including mycotoxins. Mushrooms were collected in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, with which aqueous extracts were prepared. Dilutions of the stock solution of each extract were made to final concentrations of 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL. Potassium dichromate (PD) was used as positive control and artificial seawater as negative control. The median lethal dose (LD50) of extracts on nauplii of A. franciscana was calculated. The aqueous extracts obtained from Amanita amerivirosa, A. muscaria, Chlorophyllum molybdites, and Leucopaxillus amarus showed a LD50 < 70 µg/mL, similar to PD (LD50 = 37 µg/mL). This is the first indication of the probable toxicity of Leucopaxillus amarus in humans. Cantharellus cibarius and Scleroderma texense caused the lower toxicity to the nauplii. The brine shrimp bioassay was effective in evaluating the toxicity of Basidiomycota. Scleroderma texense has been reported to be toxic, but it was not for this crustacean nauplii, and probably not to humans either, as recent literature has reported.

Effect of diet composition and temperature on the gastric evacuation rate of European sardine: implication for egg predation estimates

Cannibalism and intraguild predation of fish eggs are frequently observed for small and medium pelagic fish and can be an important cause of natural mortality. The European sardine Sardina pilchardus is the major predator of pelagic fish eggs in Atlantic Iberian waters. Estimates of egg mortality due to predation rely on a number of parameters that are frequently unknown for most species, such as gastric evacuation rate (GER) and feeding periodicity, and rates obtained for other fish species are generally used. These assumptions can severely affect egg mortality estimates. We conducted laboratory experiments to estimate the GER of European sardine that were fed diets composed of different proportions of fish eggs and other food types, such as Artemia franciscana nauplii, Brachionus plicatilis and microalgae, at different temperatures experienced by sardine in the wild (15, 17 and 21°C). Temperature, predator size and sex did not influence the gastric rates. Prey type significantly affected the GER of sardines, with slower evacuation when offered diets containing a higher concentration of fish eggs rather than microalgae, rotifers and Artemia nauplii. Fish eggs are more nutritionally rich compared to microalgae, rotifers and Artemia nauplii, and therefore more difficult to digest. GERs obtained here for S. pilchardus were similar to those obtained for Sardinops sagax in South Africa. This study provides important information that allows for improving estimates of daily feeding rates and egg mortality by predation, thus increasing our understanding of small pelagic fish population dynamics.

Biometric and fatty acid profile of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana enriched with marine microalgal species belonging to prymnesiophytes and eustigmatophytes

Biometric and fatty acid profile of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana enriched with marine microalgal species belonging to prymnesiophytes and eustigmatophytes

The effect of Artemia nauplii (Artemia franciscana) enriched with different commercial products on the growth performance of the larvae of freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare (Lichtenstein, 1823)

The present study was planned to determine an optimum live-feeding protocol for angelfish larvae (Pterophyllum scalare). Larvae with an initial weight of 0.10 mg, a length of 4.5 mm, and a depth of 1 mm were reared on three different feeding regimens for 30 days. All experimental larval groups were fed Artemia nauplii from the end of the yolk-sac resorption. The control treatment (Group I) was maintained on Artemia nauplii on days 14-28, and on Artemia nauplii + dry feed on days 29 and 30. Group II was reared with Artemia nauplii enriched with Algamac 3050 on days 14-28 and with dry feed + Artemia nauplii enriched with Algamac 3050 on days 29 and 30, whereas Group III was fed with Artemia nauplii enriched with Red Pepper on days 14-28, and with dry food + Artemia nauplii enriched with Red Pepper on days 29 and 30. The highest weight (37.8±0.51 mg) and length (15.8±0.35 mm) were determined in Group II with significant differences from the control group (p&lt;0.05). However, enrichment treatments were comparable in terms of growth performance (p&gt;0.05). The survival rate of the larvae in the treatments varied between 70-75% without significant differences (p&gt;0.05). Overall, the study results suggest that a feeding protocol for angelfish larvae with the administration of Artemia nauplii during the first two weeks after hatching and then enriched Artemia with Algamac 3050 over the following 14-28 days followed by a gradual weaning onto dry feed.