EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF ARTEMIA SALINA

1. At 24‰ salinity the energy requirement of Artemia is met by starch or lecithin.

2. The need for a starch:albumin ratio put forward by Provasoli and d'Agostino (1969) has been extended to a need for an energetic nutrient + AMP:albumin ratio. With increasing salinity, the eneregetic nutrient requirement decreases and the albumin requirement increases.

3. AMP deficiency induces a supernumerary gonopode morphogenesis. The quantitative nature of AMP deficiency inducing the morphogenetic action depends on albumin concentration and salinity. The AMP morphogenetic effect should be looked for at the protein synthesis level.

4. The possible significance of salinity induced modifications in energetic nutrient and albumin requirements is discussed.