African Journal of Aquatic Science 2021: 1–9
7
environment cause this variation despite their relatively
small geographical separation. Similarly, environmental
conditions also affect the fatty acid composition of algae
(Guschina and Harwood 2009)
The populations reported here produced freshwatertype cysts and nauplii as evidenced by their fatty acid
composition and well-illustrated in the PCA. As such,
from a larviculture point of view, the nauplii obtained
from these cysts were mainly suitable for the culture
of freshwater organisms, unless properly enriched in
essential fatty acids (Han et al. 2001). Navarro et al.
(1992b) described the 16:0:16:1n-7 ratio as a determinant
of the marine–freshwater-type of Artemia, with freshwatertype populations having a greater ratio. The 16:0:16:1n-7
ratio that was either close to 2 or higher, together with the
high LNA values and very low EPA, confirm that these
samples are the freshwater type (Watanabe et al. 1978).
Indeed, the C16 fatty acid group is a signature for silicarich diatoms (>40%), especially 16:1n-7 (Jónasdóttir
2019). In addition, Pedersen et al. (1999) reported that
16:1n-7 is a diatom lipid biomarker. Wilhelm et al. (2006)
and Obata et al. (2013) noted that diatoms are regarded
as the most ecologically successful microalgae. They
occur ubiquitously in marine and freshwater locations
(Zaslavskaia et al. 2000), and they are particularly useful
biomarkers for identification of trophic interactions (Sargent
et al. 1988).
The marine- and freshwater-types of Artemia have been
associated with the geography of the ecosystem from
which they originate, the type of brine and the quality of
microalgae in these biotopes. Artemia populations from
inland biotopes produce cysts that are more likely to
contain higher contents LNA, whereas coastal cysts have
this fatty acid in low amounts together with higher levels of
EPA (Navarro et al. 1992a). Arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) can
also be associated with coastal characteristics, as well as
having (with some exceptions) lower lipid levels in Artemia
cysts (Navarro et al. 1992a). The biotopes investigated
here were confined to inland biotopes from arid and
semiarid basins, and contain different ionic compositions
(Cole and Browne 1967). They fulfill the condition of being
relatively simple with manageable ecosystems, because
of the presence of less biodiversity and less complex
structure compared with almost all other systems, such as
freshwater ecosystems. The principal abiotic factors are
salinity, temperature, oxygen content and ionic composition
and are all amenable to monitoring on a regular basis. The
ecological characteristics that define each environment
favour the presence of certain groups of phytoplankton
and zooplankton. The abundance of polyunsaturated
fats (n-6) indicates the presence of protozoa and benthic
organisms in the diet (Desvilettes et al. 1997). Mura et al.
(1997, 2000), concluded that the particular conditions of
these habitats, such as temperature and biological factors,
such as food and sex have a direct impact on the fatty acid
profile of the freshwater-type Anostraca. The fatty acid
composition is also indirectly related to conditions that affect
the environment, such as salinity and oxygen (Torrentera
and Dodson 2004).
Among the three Algerian Artemia populations reported
here, the cysts from Bethioua show the best hatching
percentage, efficiency and synchrony, and they were
therefore more suitable for their use in aquaculture.
Regarding the fatty acid composition, this population was
not different from the others in practical terms. The newly
hatched nauplii of all three populations reported here can
be used to feed freshwater organisms, or properly enriched
(Hontoria et al. 1989), to feed marine organisms. However,
it is interesting to note that Ghomari (2013) reported that the
cysts of Bethioua and Rélizane (sites located in the western
part of Algeria) and El Goléa (south of Algeria) were
marine-type with a relatively high percentage of EPA and
a low LNA, whereas these populations were from inland
biotopes. The populations of Adrar and Melghir (sites in
southern Algeria) showed a freshwater-type profile with high
LNA and low EPA. These results agree with ours for sites
in southern Algeria (El Melah and Timimoun), but Bethioua
cysts produced profiles significantly different from those
reported in Ghomari (2013).
The sebkha of Bethioua extends over an area of 5 778
ha and is surrounded by crops. In places where streams
or wastewater discharges from the village, mudflats
surrounded by herbaceous vegetation were formed. The
salt plains were found on the dry banks (sansouires).
This can drastically change the phytoplankton in the
different ponds beyond the inland-coastal area, impacting
the fatty acid composition of cysts and nauplii of the
Artemia populations. Ruiz et al. (2007) found that inland
Argentinean populations of Artemia franciscana (such
as those from March Chiquita and Las Tunas Lagoons)
showed marine-type profiles, whereas most of the
populations of Artemia persimilis found in habitats of a
similar nature had freshwater-type profiles, accordingly
a genetic influence on the fatty acid profile cannot be
disregarded. However, the analysis of the polyunsaturated
fatty acids of Artemia reveals variability between species
and within the same species from one year to another
(Leger et al. 1986; Navarro et al. 1992). As mentioned
earlier, this fluctuation was probably due to the nature
of the primary fauna and flora ingested by the parental
generation. Similarly, environmental conditions also
affect the fatty acid composition of algae (Guschina and
Harwood 2009). It is, therefore, possible to manipulate
the acid profile of cysts and nauplii produced in an
aquaculture system by the addition or substitution of
microalgae (Lavens et al. 1989). Tracer lipid signals from
phytoplankton can also be measured to distinguish species
in the same group (Chuecas and Riley 1969).
Conclusion
The results of the current study contribute to the knowledge
of the distribution and characterization of Artemia
populations in Algeria. The fatty acid profiles showed that
all populations belong to the freshwater type, and their
nauplii were therefore suitable for feeding freshwater
organisms, but have to be enriched for feeding marine
organisms. The direct causes of the variation in the fatty
acid profile of the Bethioua population, compared with
what had been previously reported, could be as a result
of the variability of environmental conditions associated
with anthropogenic influences and variability in the
7
environment cause this variation despite their relatively
small geographical separation. Similarly, environmental
conditions also affect the fatty acid composition of algae
(Guschina and Harwood 2009)
The populations reported here produced freshwatertype cysts and nauplii as evidenced by their fatty acid
composition and well-illustrated in the PCA. As such,
from a larviculture point of view, the nauplii obtained
from these cysts were mainly suitable for the culture
of freshwater organisms, unless properly enriched in
essential fatty acids (Han et al. 2001). Navarro et al.
(1992b) described the 16:0:16:1n-7 ratio as a determinant
of the marine–freshwater-type of Artemia, with freshwatertype populations having a greater ratio. The 16:0:16:1n-7
ratio that was either close to 2 or higher, together with the
high LNA values and very low EPA, confirm that these
samples are the freshwater type (Watanabe et al. 1978).
Indeed, the C16 fatty acid group is a signature for silicarich diatoms (>40%), especially 16:1n-7 (Jónasdóttir
2019). In addition, Pedersen et al. (1999) reported that
16:1n-7 is a diatom lipid biomarker. Wilhelm et al. (2006)
and Obata et al. (2013) noted that diatoms are regarded
as the most ecologically successful microalgae. They
occur ubiquitously in marine and freshwater locations
(Zaslavskaia et al. 2000), and they are particularly useful
biomarkers for identification of trophic interactions (Sargent
et al. 1988).
The marine- and freshwater-types of Artemia have been
associated with the geography of the ecosystem from
which they originate, the type of brine and the quality of
microalgae in these biotopes. Artemia populations from
inland biotopes produce cysts that are more likely to
contain higher contents LNA, whereas coastal cysts have
this fatty acid in low amounts together with higher levels of
EPA (Navarro et al. 1992a). Arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) can
also be associated with coastal characteristics, as well as
having (with some exceptions) lower lipid levels in Artemia
cysts (Navarro et al. 1992a). The biotopes investigated
here were confined to inland biotopes from arid and
semiarid basins, and contain different ionic compositions
(Cole and Browne 1967). They fulfill the condition of being
relatively simple with manageable ecosystems, because
of the presence of less biodiversity and less complex
structure compared with almost all other systems, such as
freshwater ecosystems. The principal abiotic factors are
salinity, temperature, oxygen content and ionic composition
and are all amenable to monitoring on a regular basis. The
ecological characteristics that define each environment
favour the presence of certain groups of phytoplankton
and zooplankton. The abundance of polyunsaturated
fats (n-6) indicates the presence of protozoa and benthic
organisms in the diet (Desvilettes et al. 1997). Mura et al.
(1997, 2000), concluded that the particular conditions of
these habitats, such as temperature and biological factors,
such as food and sex have a direct impact on the fatty acid
profile of the freshwater-type Anostraca. The fatty acid
composition is also indirectly related to conditions that affect
the environment, such as salinity and oxygen (Torrentera
and Dodson 2004).
Among the three Algerian Artemia populations reported
here, the cysts from Bethioua show the best hatching
percentage, efficiency and synchrony, and they were
therefore more suitable for their use in aquaculture.
Regarding the fatty acid composition, this population was
not different from the others in practical terms. The newly
hatched nauplii of all three populations reported here can
be used to feed freshwater organisms, or properly enriched
(Hontoria et al. 1989), to feed marine organisms. However,
it is interesting to note that Ghomari (2013) reported that the
cysts of Bethioua and Rélizane (sites located in the western
part of Algeria) and El Goléa (south of Algeria) were
marine-type with a relatively high percentage of EPA and
a low LNA, whereas these populations were from inland
biotopes. The populations of Adrar and Melghir (sites in
southern Algeria) showed a freshwater-type profile with high
LNA and low EPA. These results agree with ours for sites
in southern Algeria (El Melah and Timimoun), but Bethioua
cysts produced profiles significantly different from those
reported in Ghomari (2013).
The sebkha of Bethioua extends over an area of 5 778
ha and is surrounded by crops. In places where streams
or wastewater discharges from the village, mudflats
surrounded by herbaceous vegetation were formed. The
salt plains were found on the dry banks (sansouires).
This can drastically change the phytoplankton in the
different ponds beyond the inland-coastal area, impacting
the fatty acid composition of cysts and nauplii of the
Artemia populations. Ruiz et al. (2007) found that inland
Argentinean populations of Artemia franciscana (such
as those from March Chiquita and Las Tunas Lagoons)
showed marine-type profiles, whereas most of the
populations of Artemia persimilis found in habitats of a
similar nature had freshwater-type profiles, accordingly
a genetic influence on the fatty acid profile cannot be
disregarded. However, the analysis of the polyunsaturated
fatty acids of Artemia reveals variability between species
and within the same species from one year to another
(Leger et al. 1986; Navarro et al. 1992). As mentioned
earlier, this fluctuation was probably due to the nature
of the primary fauna and flora ingested by the parental
generation. Similarly, environmental conditions also
affect the fatty acid composition of algae (Guschina and
Harwood 2009). It is, therefore, possible to manipulate
the acid profile of cysts and nauplii produced in an
aquaculture system by the addition or substitution of
microalgae (Lavens et al. 1989). Tracer lipid signals from
phytoplankton can also be measured to distinguish species
in the same group (Chuecas and Riley 1969).
Conclusion
The results of the current study contribute to the knowledge
of the distribution and characterization of Artemia
populations in Algeria. The fatty acid profiles showed that
all populations belong to the freshwater type, and their
nauplii were therefore suitable for feeding freshwater
organisms, but have to be enriched for feeding marine
organisms. The direct causes of the variation in the fatty
acid profile of the Bethioua population, compared with
what had been previously reported, could be as a result
of the variability of environmental conditions associated
with anthropogenic influences and variability in the