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Saline Lagoons - State 3 Hypersaline
Hypersaline lagoons are not generally encountered in the UK. In this State
salinity levels of over 50%, which persist for more than a few days are considered
to be damaging to the specialist lagoonal interest. Potential risks from hyper-
or hyposalinity in a lagoon may occur when tidal and seasonal variations in
input of both saline and freshwater. Broadly, lagoons are susceptible to excessively
high salinity during summer/autumn periods of low rainfall and high rates of
evaporation. The ability of the regular tidal cycle to compensate for salinity
extremes depends on the rate of tidal exchange, i.e. ingress at high tide, egress
at low tide.
They are, however, much more common in southern Europe, especially in the
Mediterranean. The high temperatures in the summer can lead to rapid evaporation
causing salt to crystallize out of suspension. This feature has led to their
development as salinas
for salt production. These may support significant populations of rare species,
especially birds including the flamingo, even on those which are commercially
managed.
Comment: For more information on salinas see the following publications:
Walmsley 1991; Walmsley
1995; Sadoul et al. 1998.
References
Sadoul, N., Walmsley, J.G. & Charpentier, B.
1998.
Salinas and Nature Conservation
.
Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, 9
Tour du Valat, Arles, France.
Walmsley, J.G.
1991.
Misappreciated salinas.
Naturopa, 67
Council of Europe, Strasbourg., 28.
Walmsley, J.G.
1995.
A practical approach to wildlife management in Mediterranean salinas.
Coastline, 1
European Union for Coastal Conservation., 21-25.
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