Quality evaluation of Artemia cysts from three Algerian populations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional value of three populations of Artemia, one from the Bethioua Sebkha (Oran) and two new biotopes at El Melah (Bechar) and Timimoune (Adrar), by evaluating the cyst and nauplius biometry, hatching parameters and fatty acid profiles. This information is of relevance to aquaculture initiatives, and fills in knowledge gaps from previous research at Algerian sites. The size of nauplii varied from 453.26 ± 0.3 µm and 478.73 ± 0.2 µm. The chorion thickness was between 13.28 µm and 10.50 µm. The highest hatching percentage and hatching efficiency were obtained after decapsulation of Bethioua cysts. The shortest hatching synchrony time was also found for the Bethioua cysts. All cyst samples from the the Bethioua population analysed in this study showed a freshwater-type fatty acid profile, rich in linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n.3), opposed to a marine-type fatty acid profile rich in presence of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n^-3). The Bethioua population exhibited the best hatching performance and are ideally suited for use in aquaculture.