Use, Production and Existence of Local Artemia Resources in Uganda and Africa: A Review

The research was funded by National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) of Uganda. AbstractThis study was aimed at reporting the existing Artemia habitats, its use and production in Uganda and Africa as a continent. In light of the great importance of Artemia as a starter feed in the aquaculture industry, its current shortage in supply, the need for commercial exploitation of local Artemia resources and development of new Artemia resources. Over 50 peer reviewed journal articles were reviewed to provide an understanding of the current status of Artemia use, production and existence of local existing Artemia resources in Uganda and Africa as continent. The study revealed neither local occurring Artemia resources nor commercial Artemia production is currently existent in Uganda, with its use mainly restricted to a few existing commercial hatcheries. Generally Artemia use in Africa is mainly restricted to the few commercial fish hatcheries. Literatures points to North African countries boarding the Mediterranean to be leading in the number of Artemia sites and production in Africa. Keywords: Artemia habitats, Hypersaline lakes, Aquaculture DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-18-04 Publication date:September 30th 2019

Limnological Survey of the Alkaline, Saline Crater Lakes of Western Uganda

Eight alkaline, saline crater lakes in western Uganda were surveyed between 26th February and 3rd March, 2014 with an aim of providing information on the physico-chemical features of these less known unique habitats and provide a basis for comparison with similar environments in other parts of the world. Lakes considered for this study included; Katwe, Kikorongo, Murumuli, Nyamunuka, Munyange, Bunyampaka, Bagusa and Maseche. Surface and Bottom measurements of physic-chemical parameters were measured in-situ from at least three geo-referenced points. Water samples for alkalinity, nutrients and detailed ionic analysis were taken from each of the points. In the laboratory, collected water samples were analysed following APHA standard operating procedures. All the studied lakes were alkaline and saline in nature as reported in the previous studies except Lake Kikorongo which was found to be fresh with a salinity of zero in this present study. With the exception of Lake Murumuli which was found to be a Carbonate-chloride lake, the rest of the sampled lakes are carbonate-sulphate lakes which is contrary to earlier studies which reported lakes like Katwe and Kikorongo to be Carbonate-chloride lakes. Keywords: Alkaline, saline, carbonate-chloride, carbonate-sulphate, lake

Hatchability of Selected Commercial Artemia Strains Using Waters from Selected Saline Crater Lakes of Western Uganda

The research was funded by National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) of Uganda. Abstract Hatchability of Artemia strains; Artemia franciscana from Great Salt Lake (GSL), A. franciscana from salt ponds in Vin Chao (VC), Chinese strain (Chinese), TUZ Parthenogetic Artemia from Kazakhstan (TUZ) and Parthenogenetic Artemia strain from Siberia (PAS) was examined using waters from lakes Katwe, Mururmuri, Bunyampaka, Bagusa and Maseche. The study purpose was to identify the best performing Artemia strain as well as the best suited saline crater lakes in Western Uganda for Artemia production based on hatchability. Artemia cysts were hatched under conditions described by Van Stappen (1996) in fabricated Artemia hatching cones at a salinity of 40ppm, temperature of 27±2°C, and light of 2000lux.  Hatchability was monitored after 24hour and 48hour of incubation. Artemia franciscana (VC) had significantly higher hatching percentage than all tested strains (P-value <0.05).  Lakes Katwe, Bunyampaka and Maseche waters presented the highest hatching percentages therefore are best suited for Artemia production. Keywords: Artemia, Hatching percentage, saline crater lakes DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-18-05 Publication date:September 30th 2019