Recherches biologiques et écologiques sur l'Artemia dans un milieu salin: la saline de Megrine

Abstract

The biological and ecological characteristics of Artemia (abundance, population composition, reproduction and cysts) were studied in relation to some physicochemical parameters of the environment (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) in the salt works of Megrine, Tunisia during the period January-December 1990. Three ponds were covered in the study. Artemia appeared in the autumn just after the first precipitations, reaching a maximum density in springtime and disappearing in summer (end of July-September). The reproduction of Artemia in these salt works is bisexual and is of 2 types: oviparous (production of eggs) and oviviparous (production of nauplii). The production of Artemia eggs reached 26 kgs in dry weight.