E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Artemia franciscana Kellogg, 1906
San Francisco Brine Shrimp; San Francisco Fairy Shrimp
Family: Artemiidae

Introduction to the Crabs, Shrimps and Crayfish of BC
Photo of species

© Ian Gardiner  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #66280)
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Distribution of Artemia franciscana in British Columbia
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Introduction


Artemia franciscana is found in Canada, western USA, Mexico, and the West Indies. It has been introduced to many parts of the world (Belk & Brtek, 1995). In British Columbia, this species has been collected from the dry interior, from the vicinities of Osoyoos, Kamloops, and Clinton (Smithsonian Institution Collections).

This species is restricted to temporary or permanent hypersaline lakes and ponds, and has been found in brines nearly five times the concentration of sea water (Eriksen & Belk, 1999). Since this species has no anatomical defence against aquatic predators, the lowest salinity at which it is found in nature is determined by the upper salinity tolerance of the local predator(s). It is found in habitats of varying ionic composition (Persoone & Sorgeloos, 1980). Scudder (1969) and Hammer & Forró (1992) found Artemia habitats they tested in British Columbia to have predominant cation/anion combinations of sodium/carbonate or magnesium/sulphate.

Note Author: Ian Gardiner

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

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Species References

Belk, D. & J. Brtek 1995. Checklist of the Anostraca. Hydrobiologia 298: 315-353.

Eriksen, C. & D. Belk 1999. Fairy Shrimps of California’s Puddles, Pools, and Playas. Mad River Press, Eureka, California: xvi + 196pp.

Hammer, U.T. & L. Forró 1992. Zooplankton distribution and abundance in saline lakes of British Columbia, Canada. International Journal of Salt Lake Research 1: 65-80.

Persoone, G. & P. Sorgeloos 1980. General aspects of the ecology and biogeography of Artemia. In: The Brine Shrimp Artemia. Vol 3. Ecology, culturing, use in aquaculture. Persoone, G., Sorgeloos P., Roels O. & E. Jaspers (Eds), Universa Press, Wetteren, Belgium: 3-24.

Scudder, G.G.E. 1969. The fauna of saline lakes on the Fraser Plateau in British Columbia. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie (Proceedings of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology) 17: 430-439.

Smithsonian Institution Collections. Available at: http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/iz/

General References

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Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2025-03-22 8:16:57 AM]
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