The effect of Urmia lake water withdrawal on Artemia urmiana population structure

Articles in Press

Document Type : Ecology

Author

National Artemia Research Center, Urmia, Iran

10.22034/aej.2020.252122.2373

Abstract

In this study, the effects of water withdrawal on the lake Artemia population was studied during 26 month period from April 2018 to May 2020. Eight sampling sites were selected in northern and southern parts of the lake. Samplings were performed monthly. Several physicochemical factors were determined such as water temperature, transparency, salinity, water level, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Electeric Conductivity (EC). Furthermore, Artemia life stages including nauplious, meta nauplious, juvenile and adults densities were determined. Statistical analysis were carried out by PAST software version 3.04. In this study, the mean water level is much lower than its ecological level (1274m) due to water withdrawal. The lowest salinity of Urmia lake was 141 g/l and observed in May 2019, while the highest salinity was 396 g/l related to September 2018. In 2018, there was not observed any Nauplious, juvenile and adult Artemia in the lake due to very low level of water. Artemia was observed from April 2019 in the lake as water level began to rise. Artemia cysts density was low during 2018 and increased from 2019. In general, this study indicated that water temperature and salinity are the most crucial parameters influencing Artemia population structure in Urmia lake.

Keywords

Journal of Animal Environment

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 April 2022

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