Razia Sultana. Wajeeha Ali, S G A Shah & Faisal Ameer

Food & Marine Resources Research CenterPCSIR Labs Complex Karachi

Karachi-75280Pakistan

ON THE ARTEMIA POPULATIONFROM PAKISTAN

Introduction

• A parthenogenetic population of Artemiawas first recorded in 1991 from coastal salt works of Korangi Creek

• Two years study from May 1991 through April 1993

• Occurrence of population was seasonal and cyclic

• Appeared in last week of October and disappeared in May

• Maximum population density in Nov-Dec at temperature from 20-28 0C

Occurrence of Artemia in Pakistan

Longitude 240 47’ 43 NLatitude 670 10’ 02 E

Korangi Creek Salt worksCrystallizers Intermediate salinity ponds

Crystallizers Crystallizers

Steps taken to protect & maintain Artemia

• From 1995 onward the population gradually declined and completely disappeared after 1997 due to the man made factors (expansion activities in which the previous Artemia ponds were converted to crstallizers and new intermediated salinity ponds were made ; and pollution from nearby industerial area particularly the tanneries)

• Artemia population was maintained in three small ponds (1.5 m2) for six years from 1998-99 to 2003-04.

Methodology• The ponds were covered with transparent nylon netting, which allows

the penetration of light in the pond, also found useful to lower the temperature

• Seawater was prepared by dissolving crude sea salt, obtained from coastal salt works. The seawater was prepared, filtered and aerated; salinity was adjusted to 80 ppt. Inorganic (i.e urea and DAP) and organic fertilizers (chicken manure) were added at the same rategiven by Tackaert and Sorgeloos (1991)

• The depth of water in ponds was kept 0.6 meter to prevent the quick temperature change; during the summer months (i.e. May and June)water depth was further increased to 0.75meter.

• Each year Artemia nauplii were inoculated @ five/ liter in October and the experiment concluded in September by draining the ponds for re-inoculation.

• The cysts naturally produced were collected. Ecological parameters like, temperature, salinity, pH, D.O. , and phytoplankton abundance were monitored.

• Temperature was recorded twice a day, at 9.00 am and at 1.00 pm,whereas, salinity twice a week, dissolved oxygen and phytoplankton abundance once a week.

Experimental data of Artemiapopulation in 1.5 m2 ponds

Inoculation Maximum Minimum Average Average size

Years density population population size of of cyst (no/L) density (no/L) density (no/L) adult (mm) (µm)

Average ± STDAverage ± STD

Average ± STD

Average ± STD

1998-1999 5 1175 ± 138.6 245 ± 7.1 10.40 ± 0.90 258 ± 09.7 1999-2000 5 1367 ± 157.7 234 ± 19.8 10.08 ± 1.07 255 ± 10.9 2000-2001 5 1678 ± 116.7 21 ± 8.5 10.50 ± 1.02 243 ± 11.0 2001-2002 5 2038 ± 195.2 129 ± 22.6 10.83 ± 0.98 244 ± 12.5 2002-2003 5 2211 ± 15.6 567 ± 88.4 11.09 ± 0.85 250 ± 11.4 2003-2004 5 2290 ± 113.1 645 ± 149,2 10.5 ± 1.50 240 ± 13.1

• Average maximum population density / liter was ranged between 1175 ± 138.6 to 2290 ± 113.1 (average of three ponds), whereas average minimum density of the three ponds was found between 645 ±149.2 to 21 ± 8.5 during six years study period.

• The average size of adult Artemia varied between 10.08 ± 1.07 mm to 11.09 ± 0.85 mm, whereas the cyst size (hydrated untreated) varied between 240 ±13.1 µm to 258 ± 09.7 µm

• The cyst produced naturally were collected, dried and stored for future use.

Results

• The year wise and steady increase in population density/ Liter may be attributed to better management evolved from previous experiments

• Maximum population density on monthly basis (i.e seasonal abundance) was found during November to March, whereas minimum in May-June. The population density was mainly temperature dependent.

• The ovoviviparous mode of reproduction dominated the population throughout the year

Ecological factors studied• Temperature

– The population thrives well between 28-320C– The maximum densities of Artemia were found at temperatures

from 20-28 0C. – The upper tolerance limit for Artemia survival was found to be

37 0C. – Temperature never reaches below 8 0C, and Artemia survived

well at this minimum temperature, though switch over to the oviparity below 10 0C, but as soon as the temperature increased the population became ovoviviparous (Such low temperature spell never stays longer than 2 days in Karachi)

– Temperature was not controlled in ponds but never allowed to rise above 33 0C during the six years period.

Seasonal variation of annual temperature (average of maximum, minimum and average during 1998-99 to 2003-04) in 3 Artemia ponds (1.5 m2)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Tem

pera

ture

(0 C

)

Minimum Maximum Average

Minimum 17 18 21 26 30 30.5 29 28.5 26 24 23 20

Maximum 20 25.5 31 32 33 33 33 33 32 33 31 28

Average 17.5 20.75 24.41 28 32 32.5 31.5 30.5 31 30 24 22

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ecological factors studied• Salinity

– The suitable salinity range for growth and survival of Artemia was from 80 to 100 ppt.

– 100 % population died at 10, 20, 140 to 250 ppt levels with in 12 hours, when salinity was changed abruptly (nauplii hatched at satandard conditions were directly transferred to the experimental salinity range from 10 to 250 ppt at an interval of 10 ppt

– Salinity when gradually increased was tolerated up to 180 ppt

Ecological factors studied

Suitability of microalgae as food

• The suitability of four species of microalgae viz, Tetraselmis chuii, Chaetoceros sp. Isochrysis galbana, and Skeletonema tropicum was assessed

• Tetraselmis chuii was best for growth, survival and reproductive output

Assessment of suitability of micro-algae as feed

Micro-algae Isochrysis galbana

Tetraselmis chuii

Skeletonema costatum

Chaetoceros sp.

Initial population density

100

100

100

100

Final population density

1400

2800

1000

2700

No. of cyst or nauplii/ brood

74 ±12 nauplii

85 nauplii

40 cysts

88 nauplii

Spawning Interval (days)

4-5

3-4

4-5

4-5

Average survival (%)

80

95

100

80

Average size of adult (n=10)

11.2 mm

12.2 mm

11.0 mm

10.9 mm

Present Studies

• Artemia are being propagated by semi-intensive method in a comparatively large (93 m2) outdoor pond.

• The objective is to develop methodologies to produce adequate stocking material either in the form of cyst or adults to inoculate the Artemia in coastal ponds and re-inoculate into coastal saltworks

• Population reached to a density of 2540 Artemia/Liter from (at different stages) / liter in exactly two months Inoculation was done on ( 12. 2. 2004).

• The experiment was started late due to a major oil spill in along Karachi coast in August 2003

Pond (93 m2)was covered to prevent rise of temperature

Monthly temperature variation in Artemia pond (1000 sq ft pond)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Minimum Maximum Average

Minimum 18 21 26 28 29 29.5 30.5

Maximum 25.5 31 34 34 35 33 32

Average 21.75 25.41 29.08 30.84 31.45 31.25 31.25

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Average of population density, Artemia/ Liter in 93m2 culture pond

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Feb March April May June July August

Monthly average of population density / liter

• There was a rapid increase in population during March and April;

• it increased roughly 35 times from February (10 individual) to March (346 individual) and about 4 times from March to April (X= 1222 individual). The population was declined in May (655 individual) and again increased in June (X= 1058 individual), it negligibly decreased in July (1024), and again increased in August (X=1322 individual).

Clusters of Artemia in Pond

Dsc00473.jpg

Clusters of Artemia in Pond

Conclusion

• The climatic conditions are suitable for pond culture of Artemia

• To keep the culture operation throughout the year, the depth of water should be more than 0.5-0.75 meters in small ponds and in large pond of about 1 acre size at least 0.4 meter

ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UPFederal Government

Ministry of Science & Technology

Federal Minister for Science & Technology

Federal Secretary for Science & Technology

The Chairman

Council (21 Members) Governing Body (3 Members)

Member (Finance) Member (Science) Member (Technology)

KARACHI LABS COMPLEXLAHORE LABS COMPLEXPESHAWAR LABS

COMPLEXQUETTA LABSNPSL, ISLAMABADFRC, KARACHILRC, KARACHIENVIRONMENTAL LAB,

ISLAMABDPSTC, KARACHI/ QUETTAIIEE, KARACHISIC, KARACHIFOOD-TRAINING CENTRE,

SKARDU

Scientific & Administrative Staff of PCSIR

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AREA OF ACTIVITIES

• Human Resource Development

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