Dispersion

As Artemia is incapable of active dispersion, wind and waterfowl (especially flamingos) are the most important natural dispersion vectors; the floating cysts adhere to feet and feathers of birds, and when ingested they remain intact for at least a couple of days in the digestive tract of birds. Consequently the absence of migrating birds is probably the reason why certain areas that are suitable for Artemia (e.g. salinas along the northeast coast of Brazil) are not naturally inhabited by brine shrimp.