Salt to conserve: a review on the ecology and preservation of hypersaline ecosystems

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dc.contributor.authorSaccò, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorWhite, NEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHarrod, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSalazar, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAguilar, Pen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCubillos, CFen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaxter, BKen_AU
dc.contributor.authorOren, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAnufriieva, Een_AU
dc.contributor.authorShadrin, Nen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMarambio-Alfaro, Yen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBravo-Naranjo, Ven_AU
dc.contributor.authorAllentoft, MEen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-09T23:49:22Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-02-09T23:49:22Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2021-07-19en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-11-18en_AU
dc.description.abstractWhen it comes to the investigation of key ecosystems in the world, we often omit salt from the ecological recipe. In fact, despite occupying almost half of the volume of inland waters and providing crucial services to humanity and nature, inland saline ecosystems are often overlooked in discussions regarding the preservation of global aquatic resources of our planet. As a result, our knowledge of the biological and geochemical dynamics shaping these environments remains incomplete and we are hesitant in framing effective protective strategies against the increasing natural and anthropogenic threats faced by such habitats. Hypersaline lakes, water bodies where the concentration of salt exceeds 35 g/l, occur mainly in arid and semiarid areas resulting from hydrological imbalances triggering the accumulation of salts over time. Often considered the ‘exotic siblings’ within the family of inland waters, these ecosystems host some of the most extremophile communities worldwide and provide essential habitats for waterbirds and many other organisms in already water-stressed regions. These systems are often highlighted as natural laboratories, ideal for addressing central ecological questions due to their relatively low complexity and simple food web structures. However, recent studies on the biogeochemical mechanisms framing hypersaline communities have challenged this archetype, arguing that newly discovered highly diverse communities are characterised by specific trophic interactions shaped by high levels of specialisation. The main goal of this review is to explore our current understanding of the ecological dynamics of hypersaline ecosystems by addressing four main research questions: (i) why are hypersaline lakes unique from a biological and geochemical perspective; (ii) which biota inhabit these ecosystems and how have they adapted to the high salt conditions; (iii) how do we protect biodiversity from increasing natural and anthropogenic threats; and (iv) which scientific tools will help us preserve hypersaline ecosystems in the future? First, we focus on the ecological characterisation of hypersaline ecosystems, illustrate hydrogeochemical dynamics regulating such environments, and outline key ecoregions supporting hypersaline systems across the globe. Second, we depict the diversity and functional aspects of key taxa found in hypersaline lakes, from microorganisms to plants, invertebrates, waterbirds and upper trophic levels. Next, we describe ecosystem services and discuss possible conservation guidelines. Finally, we outline how cutting-edge technologies can provide new insights into the study of hypersaline ecology. Overall, this review sheds further light onto these understudied ecosystems, largely unrecognised as important sources of unique biological and functional diversity. We provide perspectives for key future research avenues, and advocate that the conservation of hypersaline lakes should not be taken with ‘a grain of salt’. © 2021 Cambridge Philosophical Societyen_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipA.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (Russia). Grant Number: № 121041500203-3; DIDULS-2020 program - Universidad de La Serena; eDGES Programme (BHP-Curtin alliance); Nucleo Milenio INVASAL funded by ANID - Millennium Science Initiative. Grant Number: NCN16_034.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationSaccò, M., White, N. E., Harrod, C., Salazar, G., Aguilar, P., Cubillos, C. F., Meredith, K., Baxter, B. K., Oren, A., Annufriieva, E., Shadrin, N., Marambio-Alfaro, Y., Bravo-Naranjo, V. & Allentoft, M. E. (2021). Salt to conserve: a review on the ecology and preservation of hypersaline ecosystems. Biological Reviews, 96(6), 2828-2850. doi:10.1111/brv.12780en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1469-185Xen_AU
dc.identifier.issue6en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleBiological Reviewsen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination2828-2850en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12780en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/14637en_AU
dc.identifier.volume96en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherJohn Wiley & Sons, Incen_AU
dc.subjectSaltsen_AU
dc.subjectEcologyen_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectInland waterwaysen_AU
dc.subjectDynamicsen_AU
dc.subjectLakesen_AU
dc.subjectArid landsen_AU
dc.subjectSpecies diversityen_AU
dc.subjectFood chainsen_AU
dc.subjectWetlandsen_AU
dc.titleSalt to conserve: a review on the ecology and preservation of hypersaline ecosystemsen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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