Morphological and genetic variation of <i>Artemia sinica</i> in Yuncheng Salt Lake over the past 30 years

Wan Xuerui; Li Yunjie; Wang Chuanxu; Zhang Rui; Li Xin; Yu Huiying; Sui Liying; Han Xuekai

doi:10.12284/hyxb20260000

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Wan Xuerui，Li Yunjie，Wang Chuanxu, et al. Morphological and genetic variation of Artemia sinica in Yuncheng Salt Lake over the past 30 years[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(x)：1–10 doi: 10.12284/hyxb20260000

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Wan Xuerui，Li Yunjie，Wang Chuanxu, et al. Morphological and genetic variation of Artemia sinica in Yuncheng Salt Lake over the past 30 years[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(x)：1–10 doi: 10.12284/hyxb20260000

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Morphological and genetic variation of Artemia sinica in Yuncheng Salt Lake over the past 30 years

doi: 10.12284/hyxb20260000

Wan Xuerui^1
,,
Li Yunjie²,
Wang Chuanxu²,
Zhang Rui¹,
Li Xin²,
Yu Huiying²,
Sui Liying^{1
,
,},
Han Xuekai^{1, 3
,
,}

1.
Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Asian Regional Artemia Reference Center, Tianjin 300457
2.
Shanxi Key Laboratory of Yuncheng Salt Lake Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, 044000, China
3.
Fisheries Science Research Institute, Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Tibet 850032, China

Received Date: 2025-11-27
Rev Recd Date: 2026-02-12

Available Online: 2026-01-21

Abstract

Abstract

Artemia is important live bait in the cultivation of marine fish and crustacean seedlings, with more than 90% derived from wild Artemia resources. In order to study the effects of environmental changes and the unique aquaculture and harvest management on the morphometrical and genetic characteristics of Artemia in Yuncheng Salt Lake, Shanxi Province in the past 30 years, Artemia cysts collected in 1993 (YC-1993), 2019 (YC-2019) and 2023 (YC-2023) from Yuncheng Salt Lake were cultured and morphometrical measurements were conducted. Specific-locus amplified fragments sequencing (SLAF-seq) was used for population genetics analysis. The results showed that the YC-2023 group was extremely significantly larger than the YC-1993 group in terms of body length, abdominal length, ovary width, interocular distance, eye diameter, second antenna length, and peripheral claspers, while the cyst diameter of the YC-2023 group was significantly smaller than that of the YC-1993 group. The results of genetic analysis showed that the YC-2023 group had the lowest genetic diversity. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of three populations was between 0.252 and 0.305, showing moderate polymorphism (0.25<PIC<0.5). The F_st value of the genetic differentiation coefficient between the YC-2019 and YC-2023 populations is 0.087, indicating moderate genetic differentiation (0.05<F_st<0.15). However, the F_st value between the YC-1993 and the other two populations is 0.151, indicating a high degree of genetic differentiation (0.15<F_st<0.25). Phylogenetic tree, principal component analysis, the kinship heat map and Admixture analysis further revealed that although there was a certain degree of genetic differentiation among the three populations, their genetic information originated from the same original ancestor. The morphometrical traits and genetic variations of Yuncheng Artemia may result from genetic selection and genetic drift caused by the environmental changes that Yuncheng Salt Lake has undergone in recent years, and unique aquaculture and harvest management. This study will provide theoretical support for the conservation and utilization of Artemia germplasm resources in Yuncheng Salt Lake.
- Yuncheng Salt Lake,
- Artemia,
- genetic diversity,
- genetic structure,
- germplasm

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References(48)

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