Micromorphology of the Surface of Artemia Cycts from Small Hyperglycemia Lake of Western Siberia

Populations of the brine shrimp Artemia from inland waters exhibit specific biological characteristics due to their isolation in the habitat with greatly varying abiotic factors. We obtained the data on variability of the micromorphology of the cyst surface of gill-footed crustacean Artemia collected from four small hypergaline lakes at the northern boundary of the arid zone of Western Siberia. The cyst surface was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The cysts of the investigated populations Artemia showed a significant diversity in the micromorphology of their surface. On the cyst surface, a total of 11 types (morphotypes) of microrelief were found, one of which was not registered before by the previous research. Dominant and rare surface morphotypes were identified in each population. The study provided the data on intra-population differences of microrelief and probable causes of diversity of this morphological feature in Artemia populations. Microstructures of the chorion surface varied specifically in each population of Artemia. The revealed spectrum of such a variability reflects the entire complex of biotic and abiotic conditions of salt lakes over a long period. In combination with other morphological features of cysts from different reservoirs, essential inter-population differences in the cyst surface of the studied groups can be applied in identifying the continental parthenogenetic populations of Artemia.