Phylogenetic analysis of exotic invasive species of the brine shrimp Artemia Leach, 1819 (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (U.A.E.; Abu Dhabi)

Abstract

The taxonomic identity of an unknown Artemia population inhabiting the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., was determined using phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial marker Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1 (COI). The results showed that the examined population belongs to an exotic invasive species, Artemia franciscana. Based on the distribution pattern of haplotypes, the studied population could possibly have originated from that inhabiting the Great Salt Lake (Utah, U.S.A.).

The Impact of the Colonization of the Invasive American <em>Artemia franciscana</em> (Crustacea: Anostraca) on Genetic Differentiation in the United Arab Emirates (Asia)

“…The occurrence of Artemia in UAE had been recorded in two geographical sites including in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve 22 and Godolphin Lakes 23 . A molecular phylogenetic study has confirmed that population in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve belonged to an exotic American A. franciscana 20 . Our results have also documented the colonization of same species in Godolphin Lakes locality.…”

“…The San Francisco Bay (SFB) and Great Salt Lake (GSL) are the two main sources of Artemia that have usually been used to culture in other saline ecosystems for industrial aquaculture and fishery activates to produce Artemia cysts and biomass 13,20,21,34 , for this reason these populations were considered in this analysis to find out the genetic alterations of the colonized populations in new non-native environments.…”

“…Due to higher reproductive rate and adaptation ability of A. franciscana 14,15 , this species has been selected to culture in non-indigenous natural and artificial environments for industrial aquaculture and fishery activates, so currently it has a wide geographical distribution in the world containing inland salt lakes, coastal saltworks, salt ponds and lagoons. Now, A. franciscana has been colonized in numerous regions across Eurasia, especially in the Mediterranean 9,[11][12][13][16][17][18][19][20] and Australia 21 .…”

“…Two Artemia sites have been reported from the United Arab Emirates 22,23 . Saji et al 20 have documented invasive A. franciscana in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. There is no evidence that Artemia had been introduced intentionally into these localities for commercial activity, but it has prepared a suitable habitat for the greater flamingos and other native shore birds 20 .…”

“…Saji et al 20 have documented invasive A. franciscana in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. There is no evidence that Artemia had been introduced intentionally into these localities for commercial activity, but it has prepared a suitable habitat for the greater flamingos and other native shore birds 20 . In 1998, before introduction of the greater flamingos in Godolphin Lakes, cysts of Artemia were distributed in the water body 23 .…”