Comparative analysis of the population of the brachiopod belonging to Artemia genus in the hypersaline lakes of Crimea based on its morphometric characteristics

Systematic and regular long-term observations of Crimean artemia populations have not been carried out, and therefore, there is little data in the literature on the size and weight characteristics and morphometric features of artemia at different stages of development. It is obvious that the water-salt regime of many lakes is changing and new observations of the peculiarities of its biology and the study of its morphometric indicators are required for a reliable assessment of stocks and forecasting of catch volumes of artemia. Aim of this work is to study the morphometric characteristics of the brine shrimp, a branchiopod crustacean (gen. Artemia) of the saline lakes within Kransnoperekopsk, Chernomorsk, Saky and Lenino Districts of the Republic of Crimea. The correlation analysis of morphometric (9 morphological and 3 meristic) parameters of Artemia males and females has been conducted. New data on the length, weight and morphometric characteristics of the brine shrimp at various stages of its development have been obtained for the hypersaline water bodies of the Republic of Crimea. In the hyperhaline lakes of the Republic of Crimea, parthenogenetic and bisexual Artemia populations have been found. Investigated morphological features of male and female individuals have shown a different degree of contingency. The furca parameters in females and the abdomen parameters in males are found to be the most variable. Based on the morphometric characteristics of the investigated Artemia populations, a similarity dendrogram for the saline lakes has been created. The morphometric and cluster analysis made it possible to categorize the investigated lakes into three groups with differing salinity. Mineralization of these water bodies exerts a morphogenetic influence on the growth and development of Artemia.