General Manager
Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, Inc.
Bio:
Bosteels obtained an engineering degree in biosciences, at Ghent University in Belgium, after which he became a research associate at the Laboratory of Aquaculture and Artemia Reference Center in Ghent, Belgium. After working in Vietnam and China on several Aquaculture projects for the European Community (EC), the Flemish Inter-University council (VLIR) and the Flemish organization for Development and Co-operation (VVOB), he joined the private Aquaculture Industry. Thomas held several technical and managerial positions in the Artemia business while working in Asia, Central Asia, Europe and the United States. He currently serves on the Technical Advisory Group for the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Project, the Nutrient Technical Team for the Utah Division of Water Quality and the Great Salt Lake Salinity Advisory Committee for the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands. Thomas has over 30 years of experience in the field of Artemia and Aquaculture and is presently the General Manager of the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, Inc..
Title: Overview of Salinity Effects on Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp
Wednesday, May 9th, 10:10 AM
Abstract: The brine shrimp Artemia sp. is known for its ability to function and survive over a broad range of environmental conditions. Live populations of brine shrimp thrive in hypersaline environments primarily as a result of a well-developed osmoregulatory system and the production of efficient heme pigments. There are however multiple factors that affect the health of a brine shrimp population in a hypersaline environment. Specifically with regard to Artemia franciscana, in Great Sale Lake, a combination of physiological, environmental and hydrological conditions will exert great influence on the viability and health of the brine shrimp resource. This presentation reviews important research and historic events to ascertain critical salinity thresholds that are likely to result in catastrophic population crashes and to identify optimal salinity conditions that should ensure a healthy brine shrimp population in Gilbert Bay, Great Salt Lake.