From July 1998 to June 2000 four thalassohaline aquatic environments along the Colombian Caribbean coast (Manaure, Galerazamba, Salina Cero, and Tayrona) were surveyed monthly to determine the influence of salinity, percent O2 saturation, pH, temperature, and nutrients (NO2-, NO3- and PO4-3) on Artemia (Crustacean, Anostracan) biomass production and cyst production potential. The effects of the regularly measured physicochemical parameters on biomass and cyst production potential were analyzed using univariate analysis of variance (SPSS V10.0). The influence of physicochemical parameters on biomass production was not significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, there was a significant interaction (P < 0.05) of salinity, percent O2 saturation, and nitrate (used as a proxy for chlorophyll a) on cyst production potential. In addition, for all four locations nitrate levels were directly proportional to salinity. This might be explained by the fact that in saltworks numerous organisms are trapped and slowly die as salinity increases progressively in the evaporating basins; thus, organic matter accumulates and decomposes. Consequently, the concentration of the nitrogenous compounds, first nitrite and later nitrate, increases through time as salinity increases. Moreover, decreasing nitrate levels seem to increase cyst production potential; thus supporting the notion that when insufficient food is available cyst production increases. |
