Overview of past, current, and future ecosystem and biodiversity trends of inland saline lakes of Europe and Central Asia

Abstract

This review of trends in inland saline lakes of Europe and Central Asia is based on the relevant section of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Regional Assessment Report for Europe and Central Asia (ECA). We assessed the present status of ECA saline lakes and the effects of direct drivers (climate change, land use, pollution, resource exploitation, invasive species) on ecosystem health and biodiversity. We also assessed past, current and future trends using habitat area and degradation, species richness, and endangered species as indicators. No uniform scenario is applicable to saline lakes in the region. The desiccation of the Aral Sea is caused mainly by land use change and water extraction. In the Caspian Sea, river modifications, water pollution, overfishing and poaching, and species invasions have led to a decrease in species richness and have threatened endemic species. Although trends for smaller saline lakes vary, our analysis demonstrates that land use change, overexploitation, and pollution are more important direct drivers of ecosystem health and biodiversity than climate change. The establishment of baseline biodiversity values for saline lakes is, however, complicated because biodiversity and the food-web structure are variable and depend strongly on salinity. Thus, there is a need to classify the ecological quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services of saline lakes along a salinity gradient. The improvement of water management and reuse of water, conservation measures, and introduction of climate-smart agriculture are basic conditions for the sustainable use of saline lakes in the region.

Torey lakes, Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia: long-term changes in environmental parameters

“…Saline lakes in Central Asia provide numerous ecosystem services and have a high and often underestimated economic value (Zadereev et al, 2020). We believe that our work on the review of available literature and along with own data supports the sensitive and rare soda lakes.…”

“…These habitats serve as a regional biodiversity source. Because of the variability of local, regional, and global climate, these lakes fluctuate in size and salinity and support a regional pool of species adapted to various levels of salinity (Kirilyuk et al, 2009;Zadereev et al, 2020). Lake Barun-Totey and Lake Zun-Torey provide cultural ecosystem services.…”

Advances in limnological research in Earth's drylands

“…2). Zadereev et al (2020) assessed the conditions of saline lakes in Europe and Central Asia based on the anthropogenic and climate change drivers leading to reductions in water level. This synergy of drivers may be a great challenge to the management and sustainable use of saline lakes in that region.…”

Temporary Salt Lakes: Ecosystem Services Shift in a Ramsar Site Over a 50-Year Period

“…When saline lakes are desiccated, the amount of habitat decreases and salinities can rise beyond the tolerance of these invertebrates, limiting both food and habitat for birds. Due to their importance for avifauna, many salt lakes in Europe are, in addition to Ramsar sites, part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas (Zadereev et al, 2020).…”