PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 3: Aquatic Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 210 D, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Limnological studies of Gonabad playa, northeast, Iran: Implication in Artemia production.

Ghassemzadeh, F.^*,1, Matinfar, A.², Jamili, SH.², Zarei, A.R.², ¹ Biology Department, Mashhad, Iran² Marine Biology Department, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT- This is the first study on the Artemia population in Gonabad playa of northeast, Iran. In this study major ecological parameters, Artemia and Phytoplankton abundance were measured from October 2002 to October 2003. Sampling was carried out on a semimonthly basis from Kaleshor and Younesi stations in Gonabad. Salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, sulfide, sulfate were measured using salinimeter, winkler, EDTA, methyl orange indicator, phenoldisulforic acid, colorimeter, titration and weight the dry residue methods respectively. Phytoplankton sample were collected quantitatively by a hand-held plankton net with 20mm mesh aperture. The collected phytoplanktons are the main food source for the Artemia population consisting of five families from two different Phyla: Nitzschiaceae, Naviculaceae, Cymbellaceae from Phylum Chrysophyta and Oscillatoriaceae, Nostocaceae from Phylum Cyanophyta. Nitzschia was the most abundant of the five families in the phytoplankton community. However, considerable population fluctuations were recorded at both sampling stations during the study period. In Yoonesi station, Phytoplankton populations decreased from early summer to late autumn with increasing salinity. This decrease was less evident in Kaleshor station during the summer period while increasing in autumn. In summary Artemia density was low in the study area because of the oligotrophic ecosystem. Therefore, adding nutrients to the ecosystem will increase the Artemia production allowing commercial production of this biological feedstock. The most suitable period and location for Artemia production considering measured environmental factors in this study (8.5-22°C temperature, 70.27-155.8 ppt salinity, and 2.1-4.6 mg/L DO) are April to November in Kaleshor. The results of this study will assist the impoverished inhabitants of Kaleshor to produce Artemia.

Key words: Artemia, saline water, phytoplankton, Kaleshor