Artemia

Artemia in South Australia

There are only three reliable records of Artemia in South Australia: A. franciscana occurs in the Dry Creek salt works (Coleman & Eden, 2005) and in Bird Lake and adjacent lakes at Port Augusta (Coleman, 1998) where it is reputed to have been introduced either to past salt harvesting operations or by aquarium enthusiasts. Its continued presence in the Dry Creek salt works in ponds interconnected with some in which P. zietziana occurs was confirmed in January 2009 by one of us (BVT). Artemia parthenogenetica occurs occasionally in the Dry Creek salt works (P. Coleman, pers. comm.). The occurrence of Artemia at Coopers Creek (Geddes and Williams, 1987) has not been confirmed despite the passage of more than 20 years, and moreover there is no evidence that it has spread. Also the rumoured reports of Artemia in the Coorong have not been confirmed (M. Geddes, pers.comm.).