(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL – Climate change and excessive water consumption are threatening salt lakes worldwide, putting at risk ecosystems that support at least 200 threatened or near-threatened species, according to an international study.
Published in the journal Nature Communications in September, the study titled The Overlooked Conservation Values of Saline Lakes was conducted by 26 scientists who examined biodiversity and ecosystem services across 85 salt lakes.
Researchers focused on lakes with long-term average salinity levels exceeding one gram per liter, highlighting their significant contribution to global freshwater and saline water systems.
The study found that salt lakes account for more than 45 percent of the world’s total lake water volume and approximately 23 percent of the global lake surface area.
The research covered 27 soda lakes, 40 inland sulfate and chloride lakes, and 18 coastal lakes of marine origin, with salinity levels ranging from one to 375 grams per liter.
Scientists identified 200 species classified as threatened or near threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List that are associated with the lakes studied.
Birds accounted for 53 percent of these species, while the remaining groups included fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
The findings highlight the ecological importance of saline lakes and the growing threats posed by changing climatic conditions and unsustainable water use.
Researchers emphasized the conservation value of these ecosystems, which provide critical habitats for wildlife and support biodiversity across different regions.
The study underscores the need for stronger conservation efforts and sustainable water management to protect salt lakes and the species that depend on them.
