Some Observations of Hatching of Electron- Irradiated Artemia Eggs under a Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract

Encysted dry eggs of Artemia sauna are observed under a scanning electron microscope, after irradiation with electrons for 5min. At 18-hr-incubation in 2% NaCl solution at 27°C, the egg shells crack open, and embryos emerge from the shells. At 24- hr-incubation, the embryos hatch out into free-swimming nauplii. Exposure of the eggs shows a linear decrease of hatchability with an increase of irradiation time.