Loss of indigenous brine shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica due to the invasion by American species Artemia franciscana at Thamaraikulam salt pan

Abstract

Artemia, a widely used aquatic live feed inhabits hyper saline environments like salt pans. Artemia parthenogenetica is the native species found in Indian salt pans and is being displaced by an exotic species Artemia fracinscana, which is imported as a commercial live feed for aquaculture. The present study provides evidence of complete invasion of Thamaraikulam salt pan by A. franciscana, which in previous studies was found to be inhabited only by native A. parthenogenetica. Artemia nauplii and cysts were collected from Thamaraikulam salterns and cultured in lab. Total RNA was isolated from the cysts produced and cDNA was synthesised. The species was identified to be A. franciscana upon analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene and P26 gene sequences amplified from the cDNA. Presence of native parthenogenetic strain was not detected even on repeated trials.