Artemia (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca) cyst bank (IATS-CSIC)

Collection composed of Artemia cysts (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca). These cysts are embryos (gastrulae) with their metabolism suspended, laid by female Artemia on unfavorable environmental circumstances; they are covered by a lipoproteic chorion which protects the embryos and contributes to the bloom of nauplii larvae under favorable conditions. They are dehydrated by drying or high saline solutions. This collection started around 1984-1985. There are sampling event data, and presence data of Artemia populations. Due to the use of Artemia cysts in aquaculture industry, there is, presently a biodiversity loss in the genus, since some of its species are acting as exotic invasive eradicating the native Artemia species in different areas of the world.