Artemia Newsletter

The objectives of this volume are to present an up-to-date (literature survey up to 2001) account of the biology of Artemia focusing particularly upon the major advances in knowledge and understanding achieved in the last fifteen or so years and emphasising the operational and functional linkage between the biological phenomena described and the ability of this unusual animal to thrive in extreme environments. Artemia is a genus of anostracan crustaceans, popularly known as brine shrimps. These animals are inhabitants of saline environments which are too extreme for the many species which readily predate them if opportunity offers. They are, thus, effectively inhabitants of extreme (hypersaline) habitats, but at the same time are able to tolerate physiologically large changes in salinity, ionic composition, temperature and oxygen tension. Brine shrimp are gener ally thought of as tropical and subtropical, but are also found in regions where temperatures are very low for substantial periods such as Tibet, Siberia and the Atacama desert. They have, thus, great powers of adaptation and are of interest for this capacity alone. The earliest scientific reference to brine shrimp is in 1756, when Schlosser reported their existence in the saltpans of Lymington, England. These saltpans no longer exist and brine shrimp are not found in Britain today. Later, Linnaeus named the brine shrimp Cancer salinus and later still, Leach used the name Artemia salina. The strong effect which the salinity of the medium exerts on the morphological development of Artemia is now widely recognised.

Artemia is widely used in both life-sciences research and aquaculture. Although there are over 4000 references regarding Artemia, the literature is widely scattered. Artemia Biology provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of this literature, containing a considerable amount of previously unpublished data. Although all aspects of Artemia biology are covered, the book emphasizes whole-organism approaches. Topics covered include molecular genetics, ontogeny, clonal diversity, mitochondrial DNA-based phylogeny, and comparisons of Artemia and Parartemia (including a taxonomic key to Parartemia species). The book also contains the latest information on Artemia culturing in fertilized ponds and culture tanks, as well as the use of the organism as a food source. Researchers investigating basic biological questions involving molecular genetics, biochemistry, enzymatic and developmental activities, physiology, ecological genetics and adaptation, ecology, and aquaculture production will find this book indispensable.

The commercial culture of marine shrimp in tropical areas has grown at a phenomenal rate during the last 10 to 15 years. This book provides a description of principles and practices of shrimp culture at one point in time and documents both historical events and conditions now. It also tries to look into the future. The volume provides both practical information about shrimp culture, as well as basic information on shrimp biology. It should be of value to researchers, consultant practitioners and potential investors in the marine shrimp culture industry.

The brine shrimp Artemia has become an important experimental system for studies of the developmental process. In recent years the shrimp has yielded considerable information on the pattern of development, bio chemistry, and gene structure and expression of crustaceans. This book is a compilation of research activity from twenty five of the most active re search laboratories working with brine shrimp in the above areas. It also represents the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held in Montreal, Canada, August 11-13, 1988. The book contains twenty nine full papers covering the major areas discussed at the workshop. In addition, one page abstracts representing seventeen poster presentations which were given at the workshop, and which were deemed to be most relevant to the theme of the book, are included. These are designated with an [al in the Table of Contents following the title of each paper. A considerable amount of discussion which took place during the workshop has not been included in the book because of space limitations. However, the editors will endeavour to make some of this in formation available at a later date through the Artemia Newsletter. In addition to the high percentage of invited speakers who attended and contributed to the workshop, the organizers would like to thank a number of participants who made valuable contributions to the major dis cussion sessions. These include: John Freeman, Michael Horst, Herman Slegers, Jack Vaughn, Frank Conte, Sandy McLennan, Clive Trotman and Patrick Sorgeloos.