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Due to climate change and the occurrence of critical ecological conditions in Urmia Lake and other saline water resources with Artemia in the country, it can be assumed that these creatures are passing by endangered to critically endangered status. Currently, the taxon protection status is in the endangered category. So, it is necessary to protect and preserve the diverse genetic populations of Artemia reserves. Therefore, the establishment of a cyst bank of different populations of Artemia in Iran is a practical way to protect valuable species and populations. In this study which was conducted for 17 months from 2019, all 18 regions survived in 2006 were revisited and in coordination with all competent executive agencies, all areas containing Artemia that had not been registered were sampled. Cyst bank code, genetic identification, determining hatching percentage, moisture content and diameter measurement were performed. Cysts had been prepared earlier by experts from Urmia Lake and other parts of the country were also included in the operational cycle of Artemia cyst bank. 246 cyst samples of all collected samples were related to Urmia Lake, 34 samples were related to other parts of the country and 52 samples were belonged to coded cysts of Ghent University, Belgium including Argentina, USA, China, Occupied Palestine, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Namibia and Madagascar. All of these cysts were registered and maintained in the Artemia cyst bank. From all samples collected, 13 unknown specimens and one biomass specimen were genetically identified. Based on this research, 3 new Artemia sites were identified in the country including Qazvin, Behshar and Khoy. For molecular analysis and species separation COI region of the mitochondrial DNA genome was used and Sodium/potassium ATP ase method was used for bisexual and parthenogenetic strain separation. The results showed that the Artemia identified in the new regions were all bisexual and in terms of species Artemia from Behshahr, Qazvin-Abyek and Khoy-Ghotor were related to Artemia sinica, A.urmiana and A.urmiana , respectively. Comparison of the mean diameter of the Artemia cyst population from Behshahr region showed a significant difference with the other 2 regions (p <0.05). The minimum (255.15±5.51 µ) and maximum (280.53±19.64µ) cyst diameter (±Standard Deviation) were due to Bisexual Artemia of Khoy-Ghotor and A.sinica from Behshahr, respectively. Isolation and identification of A.sinica in Behshahr and A.urmiana in Qazvin and Khoy are reported for the first time in the country. The cyst bank establishment of different Iranian Artemia populations was done for the first time in the country as a reservoir and bio bank as a first artificial storage site to practical and preventive control and preservations of Artemia reserves of Urmia Lake and manage the crisis of Urmia Lake. Keywords: Cyst Bank, Artemia urmiana, Iran, Urmia Lake.
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