The main task of the expedition was to assess how favorable the conditions were for artemisia: experts measured the water level, its transparency, temperature, salinity, pH and oxygen content. At the same time, material was collected to determine the number and biomass of crustaceans and artemia cysts, as well as to study how reproduction is going in the first generation.
The results showed that artemia is actively developing — its populations are recorded in 24 lakes. And in 4 reservoirs, scientists found gill—legged crustaceans of the Branchinectidae family, rare and poorly studied inhabitants of the south of Western Siberia.
The hot and arid weather of the end of May — June played a role: it accelerated the ripening of artemia. The salinity of the water in most lakes has increased compared to spring, but remained within the normal range for these crustaceans. Precocious and sexually mature individuals prevailed in the gill—legs, which allowed scientists to conduct detailed morphometric measurements and assess fertility in 13 reservoirs.
Now all the collected material is being studied in the hydrobiology laboratory of the branch. The results of the work will help to estimate stocks of artemia and its cysts this year, as well as to form a forecast of the recommended catch.
VNIRO Press Service
