The series of studies accomplished and compiled in the present thesis had as a main objective the evaluation of the suitability of the Colombian Artemia for the aquaculture industry, and to illustrate the actual state of Artemia stocks in this country, including an evaluation of six newly reported populations (Salina Cero, Kangarú, Tayrona, Bahía Hondita, Pusheo and Warrego). In addition to the description of biotypes, physicochemical parameters were recorded for each population studied. This information allowed to further characterize these extreme habitats as a contribution to the knowledge of A. franciscana habitats which are complex ecosystems. The habitats where Artemia has been registered in Colombia are of marine (thalassohaline) origin, thus they are sodium and chloride rich. The application of biometric tools to determine possible cyst and nauplius size differences among the different Colombian populations has been successful at further separating some Artemia populations of potential aquaculture use. The determination of FAME from Manaure, Galerazamba, Salina Cero and Tayrona, suggested high EPAs but low DHAs. Hence, all four populations sampled are not considered suitable for marine aquaculture unless fortified with DHA rich emulsions, according to actual quality standards. The cyst quality study shows that cyst collection and processing techniques need to be improved in order for them to be suitable for the growing Colombian aquaculture industry. The outcome of the population distribution study shows Manaure, Galerazamba and Salina Cero as having a stable mean population distribution with a balanced adult to juvenile+nauplius proportion, as well as a stable female:male sex ratio. In contrast, Tayrona exhibits an unstable population distribution with a high proportion of adults and low juvenile+nauplius and female:male ratio, thus recruitment of the juvenile and nauplius cohort to assure continuity (survival) of the species in this biotope is below sustainable levels (i.e. after a systematic biomass or cyst harvesting). The study of the effect of salinity and temperature on growth and survival shows different response for Salina Cero and Tayrona populations when exposed to different conditions of the two factors under experimental conditions. Tayrona Artemia females revealed higher percent survival at the highest temperature (34 °C) evaluated, whereas Salina Cero females exhibited a higher survival at lower temperature (30 °C). The results for the reproductive experiments do not entirely agree with the estimated in situ cyst production potential. The discriminant analysis based on morphometric characters, assigns male and female individuals into their proper population group (North American and Caribbean coast) to which they belong by only one discriminant function (100% confidence). However, male morphometric characters separate better population groups than the female characters, since all Colombian populations are correctly clustered in the Caribbean coast whereas the SFB population fall into the North American group, with no overlapping between both, as it happens with females. Similarly, for Artemia populations classified by their geographic origin, male and female individuals again separate the Colombian populations from the North American (SFB) populations. Male traits correctly assign Salina Cero to the Colombian Caribbean group, according to actual geographical distances. According to the analysis, Salina Cero male population is similar to its neighboring Galerazamba population and is also related to other Colombian populations, and this is consistent with the previous findings using RAPDs and also likely to be explained by the presence of geographic barriers. Apparently, as deduced from the influence of lunar cycles and sampling time study the conglomerates formed by brine shrimp are asynchronous. Thus, no circaseptan rhythmicity is statistically compatible with the density of Artemia at any of the two sampling years. Further, light intensity differentials between full and new moon phases (not statistically significant) and sunrise and sunset (statistically significant) can possibly have an effect on the gregarious behavior of Artemia. Finally, the strong influence of temperature over Artemia density has been clearly noticed, and is a masking factor over the possible effects of any particular lunar phase over Artemia density.