From
Plankton Culture Manual, by
Hoff & Snell, pp 105-106:
"At low salinities and optimal food levels, fertilized females usually produce free swimming nauplii (ovoviviparous reproduction) at a rate of up to 75 nauplii per day. They may produce 10-11 broods over an average live cycle of 50 days. Under ideal conditions adult
Artemia survive for several months and produce up to 300 nauplii or cysts every 4 days.
"Cyst production (oviparous reproduction) is induced by high salinity, under conditions of high overpopulation (large O2 fluctuations between day and night), and chronic food shortages. At high salinities (> 150 ppt) and low oxygen concentrations, shell glands accumulate a brown compound called hematine. Embryos develop to the gastrula stage, become surrounded by a thick shell and enter dormancy. Under these conditions cyst production (oviparous) becomes dominant. Females can release up to 75 cysts per day which float in the high salinity water. The floating cysts are eventually blown ashore where they accumulate in large masses and dry. Development is resumed when the cysts are re-hydrated and the life cycle is begun again."