A team of scientists from Altai State University, led by Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor Lyubov Yanygina, is conducting a project funded by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) entitled "Rational Use of Artemia Reservoirs' Bioresources: Prospects for Utilizing Multispectral Remote Sensing Data and the Biotechnological Potential of Microorganisms."
The researchers focus primarily on Artemia, a small crustacean native to the salt lakes in Altai Krai. According to Lyubov Yanygina, their cysts (dried eggs) serve as feed in aquaculture.
“Global fishery resources in oceans and inland waters are limited and intensively exploited, causing a decline in commercial fish stocks and increasing the need for artificial breeding. Aquaculture – the breeding and cultivation of aquatic organisms – is expanding both in Russia and worldwide. During the larval stage, 85 percent of fish raised in captivity require minimal feed, for which Artemia cysts are ideally suited. Russia is a major supplier of Artemia cysts, producing up to a quarter of the world's supply. However, intensive harvesting of Artemia reservoirs to meet aquaculture demand poses risks of overfishing and stock depletion.
The project focuses on developing new methods for the sustainable use of Artemia resources and their cysts in the lakes of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. Scientists face a number of challenges, one key challenge is studying Artemia populations in the region’s waters. Currently, researchers collect water samples and manually count the brine shrimp, a labor-intensive process. To address this, scientists propose using satellite monitoring data to assess Artemia stocks in lakes through analysis of satellite imagery.
“The crustaceans display vivid coloration, ranging from orange to deep red depending on environmental conditions, which makes them easily distinguishable in satellite images. Our Chinese colleagues are conducting similar studies, though a defined research methodology has yet to be established. Throughout this project, we will develop, for the first time, methods for processing, analyzing, and interpreting multispectral remote sensing data. This will enable us to estimate Artemia biomass in water bodies, evaluate their habitat conditions, and assess their populations,” explained the biologist.
During the first phase of the project, four expeditions to Lake Bolshoye Yarovoe were conducted this year, with another planned for next week. The scientists have concentrated on studying the vertical migration patterns of Artemia – their movements between different water layers.
“One of the most intriguing findings of our research relates to the diurnal dynamics of Artemia’s migratory behavior. Although these crustaceans have been studied since the 1980s, there was no data on their preferred water layer. We discovered that Artemia migrate between different water layers throughout the day, sometimes descending to the bottom and at other times rising to the surface. The primary factor influencing this movement appears to be ultraviolet radiation intensity. An increase in UV levels causes Artemia to move to deeper layers, reducing their presence near the surface. These findings suggest that sampling only the surface layer during daylight hours may significantly underestimate zooplankton abundance. This is also critical for satellite monitoring, as crustacean reflectivity decreases with depth, potentially leading to errors in biomass estimation from satellite images,” explained Lyubov Yanygina.
Two further research components focus on studying the trophic niche of Artemia populations in the lakes of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve and developing a technology to enhance hatching efficiency, including the application of probiotics. These probiotics are being developed by the Prombiotech Engineering Center at Altai State University.