Brine Shrimp Research Paper

Artemia commonly known as brine shrimp can generally reach 15 millimetres in length (New world encyclopedia). Along with yabbies, prawns and crayfish; Artemia belongs to Crustacea. Artemia are passive feeding filter, they feed by guiding food towards their mouth via a series appendages and digest food through a simple digestive tract. Excess salt water consumed are expelled through gills known as "branchia" (Utah gov). They can be found in inland saltwater systems such as brine pools. Artemia are the largest species found in the Great Salt Lake. When conditions are ideal, matured females release active young or nauplii (larvae) into the water. However, when conditions are non-ideal the females release dormant cysts. Inside the cyst, the embryo is metabolically inactive. Once cysts are introduced to saline waters, and environment conditions are
Brine shrimp are invaluable to scientific research; due to their short lifespan, high tolerance in hostile environments and them having the ability to stay dormant for long periods. (New world encyclopedia). Since these creatures have an undeveloped nervous system animal ethnical concerns can be eliminated. Cysts of Artemia are harvested around the Great Salt Lake of Utah where they float in great masses. (New world encyclopedia) Nauplii are high in lipids and unsaturated fatty acids but low in calcium thus making them ideal to be sold as fish food. It is also known that brine shrimp can assist with the salt production in brine pools and is therefore used in commercial salt production. (New world encyclopedia). Around 250 bird species have been found to use the Great Salt Lake annually. (https://wildlife.utah.gov/gsl/brineshrimp/what.php) A variety of these birds feed on brine shrimp (either exclusively or opportunistically) in preparation for long migration. Without this food source long migrations for birds such as Eared grebes won’t be