Ying Cao - Hainan Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Marine Fishery Resources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya ۵۷۲۰۲۲, China
Jorge Castro Mejía - Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco. División de CBS. Depto. El Hombre y su Ambiente. Laboratorio de Producción de Alimento Vivo y Biofloc. Calzada del Hueso No.۱۱۰۰, Colonia Villa Quietud. Alcaldía de Coyoacán. CP. ۰۴۹۶۰. Ciudad de
Xiao-Fang Wu - Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Yazhou BayInnovation Institute, Sanya ۵۷۲۰۰۰, China
Pei-Zheng Wang - Key Laboratory for Coastal Marine Eco-Environment Process and Carbon Sink of Hainan Province, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Yazhou BayInnovation Institute, Sanya ۵۷۲۰۰۰, China
Amin Eimanifar - Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld ۳۶۴, ۶۹۱۲۰ Heidelberg, Germany
Michael Wink - Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld ۳۶۴, ۶۹۱۲۰ Heidelberg, Germany

Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, constitutes a globally distributed halophilic zooplankton organism, occupying hypersaline environments including inland lakes, salterns, and coastal salt lagoons. The genus Artemia encompasses regional endemic species and a diverse array of parthenogenetic lineages, which are characterized by various ploidy levels and distributed across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The aim of the study is to investigate and determine the taxonomic status of an unusual mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequence among ۱۴ different populations of Artemia franciscana Kellogg, ۱۹۰۶, collected from Cancun saltern in Mexico. DNA extraction and mtCOI gene amplification were conducted and taxonomic classification was achieved via BLAST analysis. A phylogenetic tree, constructed using Maximum Likelihood methodology, revealed the phylogenetic relationship between Mexican parthenogenetic Artemia and other parthenogenetic lineages of varying ploidy levels. The results unequivocally confirm the presence of parthenogenetic Artemia in Cancun saltern, aligning with sequences from Asia and Europe. Phylogenetic analysis positions revealed the Mexican specimens within the clade of diploid parthenogenetic lineages. The competitive vigor and reproductive capabilities of A. franciscana appear to have limited the expansion of parthenogenetic Artemia in North America. Further research endeavors are essential to unravel the enigmatic biogeography of parthenogenetic Artemia in North America and shed light on its potential native or introduced status.

Asexual, Brine shrimp, Field sample, North America