artemia

Artemia is a genus of small aquatic crustaceans commonly known as brine shrimp. Native to saline lakes and ponds in arid regions, Artemia has a global distribution and thrives in hypersaline environments where many organisms cannot survive. Adults are shrimp-like and typically measure 8 to 12 millimeters in length, with leaf-shaped appendages used for locomotion and filter feeding on microalgae and detritus.

A distinctive feature of Artemia biology is the production of diapausing cysts. Females release encysted eggs that can remain dormant for extended periods in dry sediment. When rehydrated in brackish water, the cysts hatch into free-swimming nauplius larvae, which molt through several stages to become juveniles and adults. Reproduction is generally sexual, with separate males and females, though some populations can reproduce by parthenogenesis under certain conditions.

Artemia tolerates a wide range of salinities and temperatures, surviving in environments from moderately saline to hypersaline waters and across broad temperature ranges. They primarily feed on microalgae, bacterioplankton, and detritus, forming an important link in saline lake food webs.

Uses and importance: Artemia is widely cultivated for aquaculture and aquarium use. Dried cysts are sold and stored for long periods; hatcheries incubate cysts to produce live nauplii that serve as starter feed for larval fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms. The cysts and cyst-derived nauplii are valued for their nutritional content, including protein and essential fatty acids. In scientific research, Artemia is employed in ecotoxicology and developmental studies due to its ease of culture and simple life cycle.

Taxonomy and species: Artemia belongs to the class Branchiopoda, order Anostraca. Among the best-known species used commercially are Artemia franciscana and Artemia salina.