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Qom Province with an area of 11,238 km^2 , surrounds about 0.68%of the country area and almost situated in the center of the country and enjoys a hot and dry climate . Because of the unique flora and fauna of the region especially the salt pools - hoze- Sultan and salt lakes enjoys a certain ecosystem in the country. Research has done in different parts of Iran and Qom province regarding the Artemia culture in salt lands that showed a great potential in the country and Qom province. The aim of this study that was held in order of Qom fisheries institute and environmental protection organization of that province and scientific leadership of Iranian Artemia Research Center, was the culture of Qom native Artemia and Artemia franciscana ( foreign species ) across Qom salt lake and determining the prevalence of cultured species in this region for this purpose, site selection and climatic and topographic data collection was held at 5 regions of Qom province. This regions were included margins of salt lake, and hoze sultan, shams abad drainage, railway station, and freshwater culture farm at the north east of Qom salt lake. margins of salt lake, and hoze sultan, were suitable for Artemia investment due to suitable climate and vast area, but they had problems in terms of technical facilities and access to areas . Also, the rail way station and plantation industry had dehydration problems. Therefore, after reviewing the field of agricultural water taken along the 45 km of Kashan and Qom Salt Lake were selected for the project because of the salty ecosystem similar to the lake, presence of salt water drainages downstream of the farm , technical facilities and a large area , soil texture and easy access to the area . For this purpose, six pools with 50 square meters near the reservoir pool available were constructed and 70 g native Artemia cysts of Qom and 23/3 g cysts of Artemia franciscana were hatched in Zooks of 10 liters for each pool ea of 50 square meters under standard condition (salinity 35 ppt pH =8, light lux 2000 and temperature 28°C). By calculating the useful volume of water for culture (112 cubic meters) and Hatching efficiency for native Artemia of Qom (40,000) and Artemia franciscana (120,000), the number of 25 nauplii per liter equal to the 2.8 million nauplii were released to each pool with size 4 × 12 m and high slope with area of 50 meter in the floor and 273 meters in the surface . Non- biological and biological studies, including algae and water analysis and population assessments were performed regularly in pools every 2 weeks. the culture period were from July to mid- October, 2009 for a period of 3/5 months. The results of algal study revealed more abundance of Cholestrium, Navicula, Nitzshia algae during culture period (105 days), that Amphora, etraselmis, Cymbella, Senedesmus, Dscillatoria, Gomphonema genera were observed, too. The results of water parameters analysis revealed that they should preserve at salinity 40–50 ppt, pH 8, water hardness 7000- 9000 mg. the results of population assessment showed a larger amounts of female broods of Qom Artemia at days 15,30 and 90 of culture with average number of 120.3, 68.8 and 29.5 per liter, respectively, comparing to Artemia franciscana with average number of 28.8, 17.5 and 7.7 per liter that was significant (p

Qom Province with an area of 11,238 km 2 , surrounds about 0.68%of the country area and almost situated in the center of the country and enjoys a hot and dry climate . Because of the unique flora and fauna of the region especially the salt pools - hoze- Sultan and salt lakes enjoys a certain ecosystem in the country. Research has done in different parts of Iran and Qom province regarding the Artemia culture in salt lands that showed a great potential in the country and Qom province. The aim of this study that was held in order of Qom fisheries institute and environmental protection organization of that province and scientific leadership of Iranian Artemia Research Center, was the culture of Qom native Artemia and Artemia franciscana ( foreign species ) across Qom salt lake and determining the prevalence of cultured species in this region .for this purpose, site selection and climatic and topographic data collection was held at 5 regions of Qom province . This regions were included margins of salt lake, and hoze sultan, shams abad drainage , railway station , and freshwater culture farm at the north east of Qom salt lake . margins of salt lake , and hoze sultan, were suitable for Artemia investment due to suitable climate and vast area, but they had problems in terms of technical facilities and access to areas . Also, the rail way station and plantation industry had dehydration problems. Therefore, after reviewing the field of agricultural water taken along the 45 km of Kashan and Qom Salt Lake were selected for the project because of the salty ecosystem similar to the lake, presence of salt water drainages downstream of the farm , technical facilities and a large area , soil texture and easy access to the area . For this purpose, six pools with 50 square meters near the reservoir pool available were constructed and 70 g native Artemia cysts of Qom and 23/3 g cysts of Artemia franciscana were hatched in Zooks of 10 liters for each pool ea of 50 square meters under standard condition ( salinity 35 ppt pH =8, light lux 2000 and temperature 28 ° C) . By calculating the useful volume of water for culture ( 112 cubic meters) and Hatching efficiency for native Artemia of Qom ( 40,000 ) and Artemia franciscana ( 120,000 ) , the number of 25 nauplii per liter equal to the 2.8 million nauplii were released to each pool with size 4 × 12 m and high slope with area of 50 meter in the floor and 273 meters in the surface . Non- biological and biological studies, including algae and water analysis and population assessments were performed regularly in pools every 2 weeks. the culture period were from July to mid- October, 2009 for a period of 3/5 months . The results of algal study revealed more abundance of Cholestrium, Navicula, Nitzshia algae during culture period ( 105 days ), that Amphora, etraselmis, Cymbella, Senedesmus, Dscillatoria, Gomphonema genera were observed, too. The results of water parameters analysis revealed that they should preserve at salinity 40 – 50 ppt, pH 8 , water hardness 7000- 9000 mg. the results of population assessment showed a larger amounts of female broods of Qom Artemia at days 15,30 and 90 of culture with average number of 120.3, 68.8 and 29.5 per liter , respectively , comparing to Artemia franciscana with average number of 28.8, 17.5 and 7.7 per liter that was significant ( p< 0.05) . The results indicated the greater development and adaptation of native Artemia of Qom at the culture ecosystem of Qom ( Kesht va Sanaat Ab Shirin farm at the northeast of Qom salt lake) . Harvesting of Artemia biomass of native Qom with the amount of 30 kg /100m2 showed the production of native Artemia is relatively economic and during culture period ( 105 days ) the mean cyst production for native Qom Artemia and Artemia franciscana were 193 and 123.5 individuals / liter, respectively . It can be concluded that native Qom Artemia enjoys a greater adaptation in growth and development with the arid ecosystem of the region and can be used as a valuable biologic stock in culturing purposes and developing native Artemia strains of the country and investments in construction of Artemia culture pilots in salt areas situated at Qom salt lake . Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute Published