(Answer) What tiny creature contributes to the colors of the San Francisco Bay salt ponds here?

[8-6-2022] Microsoft Rewards Bing Homepage Quiz Question: What tiny creature contributes to the colors of the San Francisco Bay salt ponds here?

The given options are:

• Brine shrimp
• Water mites
• Water skimmer bugs

Correct Answer: Brine shrimp

Info: Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans, also known as brine shrimp. It is the only genus in the family Artemiidae. The first historical record of the existence of Artemia dates back to the first half of the 10th century AD from Urmia Lake, Iran. Brine shrimp are in the same family of critters once marketed in comic books as Sea-Monkeys. They feast on algae in salt ponds. Their life span depends on the salt content of the water, which in turn determines how much of the algae they can eat. Algae distribution determines the intensity of a salt pond’s color. Orange indicates mid-level salinity, green is low-level, and pink or red are signs of high salt content in an algae-rich pond. Artemia populations are found worldwide in inland saltwater lakes but not in oceans. The ability of Artemia to produce dormant eggs, known as cysts, has led to extensive use of Artemia in aquaculture. Breeds of Artemia are sold as novelty gifts under the marketing name Sea-Monkeys. (Ref)

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All three questions from today’s Bing Homepage Quiz are below. You can find their answers by visiting those pages.

1. What are these colorful, shallow streams and ponds in San Francisco Bay used for?
2. What tiny creature contributes to the colors of the San Francisco Bay salt ponds here?
3. What is the Beaufort scale used for in San Francisco Bay?