“…Our results were much higher than those found in the Arabian Sea (S = 36 ‰, <7.5 × 10 3 cells · ml −1 , Garrison et al , 2000), the China Sea (North Pacific, 6 × 10 3 cells · ml −1 , Jiao et al , 2005), an Italian saline lake (salinity > 62 ‰, mean = 27 × 10 3 cells · ml −1 , Zippel & Schimmele, 1999), and Spanish salterns (0.3 × 10 3 cells · ml −1 , Estrada et al , 2004). The highest densities were recorded in ponds A16, C2-1 and M2 (salinity range: 70–200‰).…”