Hatching of artemia franciscana and it’s performance in fertilized ponds
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Date
2024-05
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the general performance
of Artemia franciscana from saltworks in Tanga, Tanzania. The
study aimed to determine Artemia cysts’ biometry and hatching
efficiency, and effect of pond fertilization on growth
performance and nutritional composition of Artemia. For the
study on biometry and hatching efficiency, Artemia cysts were
collected from salt farms in Tanga, Tanzania, using a 100-150
mesh net. Then the cysts were processed and packed in
airtight containers. In the laboratory, the diameter of each cyst
was measured from a sub sample of 200 cysts and another
sub-samples were incubated in beakers at 28 °C, 35 ppt, and
a pH of 8. After 24 hours, newly hatched nauplii were moved in
triplicate to the culturing tanks, where they were cultured for 15
days while being fed microalgae (Nannochloropsis oculate). As
a reference, the Vinh Chau Artemia cyst strain (from Vietnam)
was used as control. The findings showed that Artemia cyst
from Tanga had a higher value of capsulated cyst diameter
(213.4μm) and chorion thickness (9.7μm) compared to Vinh
Chau Artemia cysts (208.3 μm; 8.3 μm) respectively. Also, a
higher hatching percentage and efficiency was observed in
Vinh Chau Artemia cyst compared to Tanga (p < 0.05).
However a higher growth performance and survival
percentage (74.56%) were observed in Tanga Artemia strain
compared to Vinh Chau Artemia strain (53.85%) which is very
promising. Hence, Tanga Artemia strain showed good quality
hence its prospects to production in pond. However, the study
on the effects of pond fertilization, examined the growth
performance and nutritional composition of Artemia. At 28 °C,
35 ppt, and a pH of 8, six buckets each holding 20 liters of
water were used to hatch a total of 30g cysts. The newly
hatched nauplii were then inoculated in triplicates into the fertilized and non-fertilized ponds, where they were cultured for
28 days at a density of 100 nauplii/litre. The results on
Artemia’s growth performance and nutritional composition
were significantly greater in fertilized ponds (p<0.05).
Phytoplankton communities were also more abundant in
fertilized ponds compared to non-fertilized ponds. All the
environmental parameters monitored were within the
recommended range for example the mean salinity was above
70ppt. The findings from this study suggested that pond
fertilization is of great importance for quality and optimal
production of Artemia in ponds. The results of this study lead
to the conclusion that Tanga cysts exhibit good biometric
characteristics as well as good growth performance when
exposed to pond fertilization. As a result, we recommend
further research in order to enhance more traits of the local
Artemia breed in pond production.
Description
MSc Dissertation
Keywords
Artemia, Growth, Survival, Plankton, Nutritional Composition, Cysts