Abstract
Artemia populations of the western and southwestern part of Algeria were studied in
order to assess their resources for aquaculture use and to complete the bibliographic data on
Artemia resources in Algeria. Only the populations of Bethioua (Wilaya of Oran), Timimoune
(Wilaya of Timimoune) and El Melah (Wilaya of Béchar) were the subject of the study
because they present a sufficient quantity to achieve the research. Six aspects were studied:
cyst biometry, hatching parameters, nauplii biometry, identification of Artemia species,
population dynamics and valuation of Artemia resources in terms of fatty acid profile.
The populations studied produce large cysts. The cysts of the parthenogenetic
population Bethioua are significantly larger than the cysts of the bisexual populations (El
Melah and Timimoune). However, Artemia cysts can be used in aquaculture and are
beneficial when it comes to economy and energy. The chorion thickness evaluation shows
that all three populations have a thick chorion and the parthenogenetic population of Bethioua
has a larger chorion compared to the bisexual populations. The chorion of the studied cysts
presents an interesting characteristic in aquaculture, and according to the bibliographical
references, it offers a better protection. For hatching parameters, decapsulation improved
hatching quality in hatching efficiency for all three populations. The best results for these
parameters are obtained in the Bethioua population, which has a high hatching quality.
The species were characteristics using morphological and morphometric characteristics. The
populations of the South (El Melah and Timimoune) belong to Artemia salina (Linnaeus,
1758), however the population of Bethioua belongs to the diploid and tetraploid
parthenogenetic population.
The survival of the three populations studied declines due to increasing salinity,
however, the bisexual population of El Melah has a higher survival rate (85.5%). After 21
days of breeding, the population of Bethioua presents a significantly higher total length (8.62
± 0.02 mm) compared to the other bisexual populations with a higher Absolute growth rates
for the nauplius stage (O.21 mm/D) and the metanauplii stage (0.49 mm/D). However, for the
adult stage the highest Absolute growth rates is obtained in the population of El Melah (0.68
mm/D).
The population of Timimoune has a better strategy than the three studied populations,
which is based on two main points: time and sexual effort (production of offspring), it is
Artemia populations of the western and southwestern part of Algeria were studied in
order to assess their resources for aquaculture use and to complete the bibliographic data on
Artemia resources in Algeria. Only the populations of Bethioua (Wilaya of Oran), Timimoune
(Wilaya of Timimoune) and El Melah (Wilaya of Béchar) were the subject of the study
because they present a sufficient quantity to achieve the research. Six aspects were studied:
cyst biometry, hatching parameters, nauplii biometry, identification of Artemia species,
population dynamics and valuation of Artemia resources in terms of fatty acid profile.
The populations studied produce large cysts. The cysts of the parthenogenetic
population Bethioua are significantly larger than the cysts of the bisexual populations (El
Melah and Timimoune). However, Artemia cysts can be used in aquaculture and are
beneficial when it comes to economy and energy. The chorion thickness evaluation shows
that all three populations have a thick chorion and the parthenogenetic population of Bethioua
has a larger chorion compared to the bisexual populations. The chorion of the studied cysts
presents an interesting characteristic in aquaculture, and according to the bibliographical
references, it offers a better protection. For hatching parameters, decapsulation improved
hatching quality in hatching efficiency for all three populations. The best results for these
parameters are obtained in the Bethioua population, which has a high hatching quality.
The species were characteristics using morphological and morphometric characteristics. The
populations of the South (El Melah and Timimoune) belong to Artemia salina (Linnaeus,
1758), however the population of Bethioua belongs to the diploid and tetraploid
parthenogenetic population.
The survival of the three populations studied declines due to increasing salinity,
however, the bisexual population of El Melah has a higher survival rate (85.5%). After 21
days of breeding, the population of Bethioua presents a significantly higher total length (8.62
± 0.02 mm) compared to the other bisexual populations with a higher Absolute growth rates
for the nauplius stage (O.21 mm/D) and the metanauplii stage (0.49 mm/D). However, for the
adult stage the highest Absolute growth rates is obtained in the population of El Melah (0.68
mm/D).
The population of Timimoune has a better strategy than the three studied populations,
which is based on two main points: time and sexual effort (production of offspring), it is