Seasonal Dynamics of the Content of Metals in Artemia sp. (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) Cysts from Saki Lake (Crimea)

The content of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Fe metals in Artemia cysts collected in the Western Basin of the Saki Salt Lake in different seasons of 2017, as well as a percentage of nauplii hatching from cysts, were studied. The content of Cu was 5.58–13.48 mg/kg, Zn 38.34–53.04 mg/kg, Pb 0.69–2.94 mg/kg, Ni 1.17–5.73 mg/kg, and Fe 223.6–321.5 mg/kg. The largest content of metals in cysts was noted in December; the lowest, in June and October. High values of the correlation coefficient (>50%) were detected between the content of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni, as well as between the content of Cd, Pb, and Ni. The lowest percentage of nauplii hatched from cysts was noted in June; the highest, in December. There is no significant correlation between the content of metals in cysts and percentage of nauplii hatched from them. Different reasons of the fluctuation in the content of metals in Artemia cysts are discussed, that include atmospheric precipitations, flood waters, runoff from agricultural lands, as well as temperature fluctuations, and other processes.