First record of Artemia franciscana (Crustacea: Anostraca) in a hypersaline system of Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla, Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/bjs.v6i1.901Keywords:
Artemia, biodiversity, hypersaline environments, phylogeny, Puebla, saltworksAbstract
The presence of Artemia franciscana is reported for the first time in the hypersaline saltworks of Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla, Mexico. The objective of this study was to document the occurrence of this species in an inland hypersaline ecosystem and to evaluate the environmental conditions associated with its presence. Specimens were collected from traditional salt ponds between January 2024 and January 2025. Physicochemical variables, including temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids, were recorded. Taxonomic identification was performed through amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Obtained sequences showed more than 99% identity with Artemia franciscana records available in GenBank and BOLD Systems. Phylogenetic analyses consistently grouped all samples within the Artemia franciscana clade with high support values. The simultaneous presence of adult organisms and viable cysts throughout different sampling periods indicates the establishment of a persistent population within the saltworks. These findings expand the known distribution of Artemia franciscana in Mexico and highlight the importance of inland hypersaline ecosystems as reservoirs of specialized biodiversity.
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Copyright (c) 2027 Juan Ricardo Cruz-Aviña, Gabriel Gómez-Carreto, María Guadalupe Tenorio-Arvide, Carlos Alfonso Álvarez-González, Ruben Cabrera, Jhoana Díaz-Larrea
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