Comparative study of Artemia fatty acid composition collected from different Algerian saline sites
Abstract
A. Benmehal, S.M. Ghomari and D. Benabdelmoumene*
Artemia is a small branchiopod crustacean Anostraca of aquaculture. Its interest remains among the most essential foods used in larviculture of fish and crustaceans. The determination of the fatty acid composition of brine shrimp cysts of certain Algerian populations from different origins allows us to assess the nutritional quality of these populations for their aquaculture exploitation. Sampling was carried out in two large areas, to the east: Chott Merouane (city of el Oued), Sebkhet Ez-Zemoule (city of Oum El Bouaghi), Lake El Bahira (city of Sétif), and the west: sebkhet Timimoune (city of Timimoun), Saline of Betioua (city of Oran) and Sidi Bouziane (city of Relizane). The overall percentage of total lipids contained in samples of brine shrimp cysts varied between 11.02% and 30.25% of dry weight. Maximum values were found in samples from Timimoun. Analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography revealed the presence of twenty-one fatty acids. The contents of monounsaturated fatty acids were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the different strains studied compared to the contents of saturated fatty acids (82.80% vs. 21.963%), respectively. The high value of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) was observed in the Chott Merouane strain with (55.04% ± 5.83%)