Saline lagoon, State 1 - low salinities

A low salinity lagoon (6-10% of sea water) lacks most of the specialist fauna of higher salinity lagoons hence their biodiversity value of State 1 is generally lower than the value in State 2 sites. Low salinities should ensure a consistent supply of invertebrates. Target salinity ranges will be exceeded from time to though overall reductions in invertebrate populations should be minimal, so long as the event only lasts for a few days. For example the short life cycle of chironomids (6-8 generations a year) mean that lagoons with these species are able to recover quickly from drying or high salinity events. This assessment is based individual species tolerances presented in the Saline Lagoon Guide (Section 3.3.1. Table 5).

Comment: These are often the lagoons where bird populations are a priority interest.