Background: ARTEMIA urmiana are small crustaceans that because of its non-selective filter feeder pattern potentially may absorb high level of heavy metals through their living environment.In this study, the effects of different levels of cadmium and copper on survival, catalase activity and metals bioconcentration rates inA. urmiana NAUPLII have been investigated.Methods: The research was carried out in February 2012 at University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.First experiment was conducted in nine concentrations with six replication, then LC50 and probable interactions between experimental metals were evaluated. In the second experiment, concentrations of metals absorbed byARTEMIA and catalase activity were measured based on the acute toxicity indices, including NOEC, LOEC and LC50 at individual and mixed concentrations.Results: The toxicity of copper sulphate (LC50=29.87) was 2.5 times greater than cadmium chloride (LC50=79.08) and the toxicity interaction between cadmium and copper was synergistic.The rate of copper uptake inARTEMIA was higher than cadmium and increased concentration of heavy metals significantly decreased the bioconcentration factor. Comparison of mixed and individual concentrations showed that cadmium significantly decreased copper uptake, while it seems that cadmium bioconcentration was improved consequently. Biochemical analysis showed that the catalase activity was affected undesirably in different individual and mixed concentrations; however, these changes were not significant.Conclusion: A. urmiana nauplia seems to be highly resistant toward cadmium and copper in their culture medium and demonstrated excessive potential for uptake of heavy metals from their rearing environment.

This research was performed to introduce a standard protocol for enrichment of ARTEMIA urmian with Canola oil. ARTEMIA urmiana NAUPLII were enriched at three densities (50000, 100000 and 200000 NAUPLII L-1) and three concentrations of Canola oil (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g L-1). Their effects were evaluated on survival, total length and profile of fatty acids at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 hours after the onset of enrichment. Cysts of A.urmiana were hatched according to the standard method. A.urmiana NAUPLII were stocked at above densities in 7 L cylindrical containers. Canola oil emulsion was added at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g L-1 at the beginning and 12 hours after the onset of enrichment. The results of analysis showed that enrichment of A.urmiana with 0.3 g L-1 Canola oil at 100000 NAUPLII L-1 for 18 hours was considered as the best treatment. ARTEMIA NAUPLII enriched in this treatment had significantly higher levels of (n-3) PUFA and survival and minimum total length comparing to other treatments. The treatment had significantly higher levels of (n-6) PUFA than all treatments except treatment with a density of 50,000 NAUPLII L-1 with 0.1 g L-1 Canola oil for 18 hours.

The study of Nannochloropsis oculata & Isochrysis galbana algae increase the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA fatty acids in Urmia ARTEMIA (ARTEMIA urmiana) was performed. Groups of 10-15 liters salinity, temperature in 25-26 ° C, pH 5 / 8-8, 2000 lux light) with emphasis EPA and DHA, on the study and with control group (Group of hunger during the treatments enrichment), were compared. The results show that the best time ARTEMIA NAUPLII for enrichment with algae about 2 hours after the yolk sac is absorbed. The best species of algae to increase the EPA was Isochrysis galbana with the 1. 74 mg / g dry weight and increase DHA algae Nannochloropsis oculata with the 0. 22mg/ g dry weight and ratio between DHA / EPA is: 0. 12. The examples above that of the control sample is statistically significant.

Hatchability of cysts and nutritional value of ARTEMIA urmiana's NAUPLII in different incubation times were evaluated. The experiments were conducted at five incubation times 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 hours, in triplicate random groups. Hatchability of cysts during these periods was determined with standard methods.NaupIii were hatched in five litre bottles to determine their biochemical composition. Dry weight, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash, caloric content and fatty acid compositions of NAUPLIIes were determined at different developmental stages. Also, the dry weight and the biochemical composition of NAUPLII were determined individually, at different developmental stages.The results showed that the hatching percentage and efficiency increased with time with the hatching percentage being significant (P<0.05). The nutritional value of NAUPLII decreased slightly with time in most cases, but no significant changes were found (P>0.05). Based on the results, the incubation times 25 or 26 hours are recommended for harvesting NAUPLII. At these times, hatchability and the amount of harvested NAUPLII increased while their nutritional value was highest.

In this study, hatchability and nutritional value of ARTEMIA urmiana's NAUPLII, and the effects of temperature on these factors were evaluated. The experiments were conducted factorially with two levels of temperatures (25 and 30oc) in triplicate random groups. Hatchability of cysts at these temperatures were determined. To determine the biochemical composition of their body, NAUPLIIes were hatched in five-liter bottles and harvested after 24 hours. Dry weight, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash, caloric content, and fatty acid compositions of NAUPLII's were determined at these two temperatures. The individual dry weight and the individual biochemical composition of NAUPLII were also determined.The results showed that the hatching percentage and hatching efficiency increased with an increase in both temperature and time. For the hatching percentage, the increase was significant (p<0.05). The nutritional value of NAUPLIIes decreased slightly at higher temperatures in most cases, but the change was not found significant (p>0.05). Based on the results of the study, a temperature of 300 c is recommended for cysts' hatching; at such a temperature, not only hatchability increases, but the nutritional value is also preserved.

ARTEMIA NAUPLII, despite their marine origin, have a good potential for application in the freshwater ornamental fish culture. In this study, ARTEMIA urmiana and A. franciscana were used for feeding Guppy (Poecilia reticulata Peters) larvae. Newly hatched NAUPLII at three different densities of 3, 6, and 12 ind./ml as live feed were compared for measuring larval ingestion rate. Results showed that type and density of ARTEMIA NAUPLII had significant effects on ingestion rate (P<0.05). The average ingestion rate in larvae which were maintained at 12 hours starvation (first set of experiment) were 36, 244, and 664 ind./larvae/day for A. urmiana, 160, 480, and 880 ind./larvae/day for A. fransiscana at densities of 3, 6, and 12 ind./ml, respectively. The average ingestion rate of guppy larvae with 24, 48 and 72 hours feeding preconditions (2nd, 3rd and 4th set of experiment) significantly (P<0.05) decreased. After starvation, the ingestion rate of guppy larvae fed A. urmiana ranged between 22-54, 86-102, and 148-188 ind./larvae/day, for A. franciscana 66-100, 100-260, and 200-224 ind./larvae/day at 3, 6, and 12 ind./ml, respectively. The use of suitable densities of 6 and 12 ind./ml from ARTEMIA NAUPLII could increase efficiency of utilization and also improve guppy larvae production.

The ability of ARTEMIA urmiana NAUPLII as a carrier of oxolinic acid and its transfer to the Persian sturgeon larvae (Acipenser persicus), drug excertion in the NAUPLII of ARTEMIA in the cold incubation (4oC) and fish larvae in the laboratory conditions (19-21oC) were studied. The correlation between drug excretion and time of NAUPLII storing in the cold incubation was significant. The oxolinic acid excretion in first 12 hours of experiment in 2 doses of 5% and 10% (w/w) were 23.16% and 13.05% and in 24 hours of experiment 58.86% and 41.09% comparable of t0 (time of transferring to cold incubation), respectively. This decrease was significant. In dose of 20% of experimental treatment excretion rate of oxolinic acid in 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours of experiment comparable of t0 were 10.89%, 14.8%, 18.48%, 55.51%, respectively. The correlation between oxolinic acid excretion from NAUPLII of ARTEMIA urmiana and time of NAUPLII storing by passing the time was high (r>95%) and significant (p<0/05). The oxolinic acid excretion in fish larvae in first 12 hours of experiment in 3 doses of 5%, 10%, 20% were 5.7%, 43.58%, 70.51%, respectively. These decreases were significant in 2 doses 10% and 20%.

ARTEMIA is one of the most important test organisms available for ecotoxicity tests. In this study the toxicity of five widely used herbicide formulations including: Paraquat, 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D), Trifluralin, Glyphosite and-Atrazine were compared using the ecotoxicity bioindicator, ARTEMIA franciscana. Acute toxicity (48 h LC50) of five herbicides were determined via OECD standard methods. ARTEMIA were hatched using standard methods and 12 h old NAUPLII were used for toxicity evaluation of herbicides. NAUPLII were exposed to serial concentrations (more than 6 in triplicates) of each herbicid. Mortalities at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after exposure were recorded and the LC50 were calculated using the Probit software. The results showed that the mortality rate increased by increasing the exposure time in all herbicide toxicity assays. Besides 48 hours LC50 value of Paraquat, 2, 4-D, Trifluralin, Glyphosite and Atarzine were calculated at 15. 67, 12. 93, 11. 87, 164. 31 and 61. 34 mg L-1 in A. franciscana respectively. Glyphosate showed significantly less lethality and toxicity while Trifluralin and 2, 4-D showed the highest toxicity in A. franciscana among the examined herbicides. Then for sustainable agricultural activity, especially in areas that runoff water flows into aquatic ecosystems, it is highly recommended to use environmentally friendly herbicides like – Glyphosate as an alternative to the highly toxic herbicides like Trifluralin, Paraquat and 2, 4-D.

Full Text [PDF 416KB] In this study, different levels of vitamin C (L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate) on the hatching efficiency and obtained ARTEMIA NAUPLII survival were examined at different temperatures. In the first experiment, the effect of different amounts of vitamin C (0, 500, 1000 ppm) on hatching percentage of the Maharloo Lake ARTEMIA cyst was examined with 6 replicates. Results of the first experiment showed that different amounts of vitamin C had no significant effect on hatching percentage. In the second experiment, the effect of different temperatures on the percentage of survival of ARTEMIA NAUPLII was studied. In this experiment, obtained NAUPLII from first experiment were put in 3 different temperatures (1, 4, 16 ºC) with 6 replicates for 48 hours, then percentage of survival of ARTEMIA NAUPLII accounted. Result of the second experiment showed that interaction of vitamin C and different temperatures had no significant on the survival rate of ARTEMIA NAUPLII. Different amounts of vitamin C (0, 500, 1000 ppm) had no significant difference on the percentage of survival of the ARTEMIA NAUPLII, but different temperatures had significant effect on survival rate. Results of these experiments showed that increase of the amount of vitamin C had significant difference on hatching percentage of the Maharloo ARTEMIA cyst, no significant effect on survival rate of ARTEMIA NAUPLII. Also it is found that survival rate of ARTEMIA NAUPLII in 16 ºC temperatures was more than 1 and 4 ºC temperatures.

We assessed the effects of ARTEMIA urmiana NAUPLII as fish food enriched with different oils on growth and survival rate of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) larvae. Sturgeon ovary oil, cod liver oil, linseed oil and a commercial emulsion (ICES, Belgium Brand) in three levels (100, 200 and 300ppm) for two periods of 12 and 24h were used for enrichment of A. urmiana NAUPLII fed to Persian sturgeon larvae during 20 days. Length, weight, SGR, CF, FCR and biochemical analyses including fatty acid profiles, total lipid and protein were measured for sturgeon larvae. Maximum length (43.9±2.3mm), OW (34.9±8.7mg), and minimum FCR (1.15±0.21) for sturgeon treatment 12h-200ppm, maximum SGR (13.4±0.6) for sturgeon treatment 12h-300ppm, CF (0.47±0.03) for linseed treatment 12h-300ppm and ICES 12h-300ppm (0.47±0.05), survival (94.1±0.2%) for ICES 24h-200ppm, protein content (70.05%) for ICES 12h-200ppm, lipid (21.14%) for sturgeon ovary oil treatment 24h- 300ppm, Arachidonic acid (ARA) (1.54±0.22mg.g OW) for cod liver oil treatment 24h- 300ppm, EPA (3.53±0.36mg.g OW) for cod liver oil 24h-100ppm, and OHA (3.22±0.09mg.g OW) for ICES and linseed treatments 24h-200ppm were obtained. OHA/EPA ratio in sturgeon larvae before active feeding was 1.75 which showed no significant difference compared to ICES in two levels (24h-100 and 200ppm) and linseed in two levels (24h-100 and 200ppm). ANOV A of different treatments showed significant differences between length, CF, survival rate, total lipid, ARA, EPA, and OHA contents of the sturgeon larvae among treatments (P<0.05).