Effect of nutritive microalgae on growth and survival rates, nutrition value and reproduction performance of Artemia urmiana

Artemia is the most widespread live food used in the production of different stages in many aquaculture organisms. It is a non-selective filter feeding organism. Generally, microalgae are the most favorable feeds for Artemia, particularly when the algal species have suitable size, digestibility and nutrient values. This study was performed to compare the efficiency of three microalgae namely Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis suecica, Nannochloropsis oculata, Chlorella sp., Cheatocerus sp., Spirolina sp. and Isochrices sp. on the growth, survival and reproduction efficacy in Artemia urmiana in laboratory conditions. Artemia cysts were harvested from Urmia Lake and hatched according to the standard method. Live microalgae were cultured using the Walne and F/2 Guillard's culture mediums. Artemia survival was determined in treatments on days 8, 11, 14, 17 and 20. Length growth of A. urmiana was measured by Motic SMZ- 168 stereomicroscope equipped by Motic MLC- 150c apparatus and related software in three-day intervals. To determine reproduction efficiency characteristics such as cysts and nauplious production, intervals between two successive reproductions, first reproduction time and the date of female Artemia were analyzed. Statistics analysis was performed by one-way variance (ANOVA) and Duncan test in SPSS 18 software. The results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.01) among three microalgae in terms of length growth, survival rates and reproduction characteristics in A.urmiana. On the other hand, there was a direct relationship between Artemia length growth and reproductive characteristics. In general, this study showed that survival rate, length growth and reproductive characteristics of A.urmiana fed by Dunaliella tertiolecta were significantly higher than A.urmiana fed by other microalgae.Therefore, it seems that Artemia culture in salt water with Dunaliella as natural flora is a suitable choice