Responses of freshwater biota to rising salinity levels and implications for saline water management: a review

Abstract

All of the plants and animals that make up freshwater aquatic communities are affected by salinity. Many taxa possess morphological, physiological and life-history characteristics that provide some capacity for tolerance, acclimatisation or avoidance. These characteristics impart a level of resilience to freshwater communities.To maintain biodiversity in aquatic systems it is important to manage the rate, timing, pattern, frequency and duration of increases in salinity in terms of lethal and sublethal effects, sensitive life stages, the capacity of freshwater biota to acclimatise to salinity and long-term impacts on community structure.We have limited understanding of the impacts of saline water management on species interactions, food-web structures and how elevated salinity levels affect the integrity of communities. Little is known about the effect of salinity on complex ecosystem processes involving microbes and microalgae, or the salinity thresholds that prevent semi-aquatic and terrestrial species from using aquatic resources. Compounding effects of salinity and other stressors are also poorly understood.Our current understanding needs to be reinterpreted in a form that is accessible and useful for water managers. Because of their complexity, many of the remaining knowledge gaps can only be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach carried out in an adaptive management framework, utilising decision-making and ecological risk assessment tools. B T 0 2 1 1 0 R e s p o n s e s o f f r e s h w a t e r b i o t a t o r i s i n g s a l i n i t y K . J a m e s e t a l .

Salinity as a driver of aquatic invertebrate colonisation behaviour and distribution in the wheatbelt of Western Australia

“…Yet, adaptive behaviour, such as the avoidance of saline water bodies, may assist the persistence of aquatic invertebrates that are halosensitive and influence Significant results are shown in bold population dynamics more widely (Spencer et al, 2002;James et al, 2003;Neilsen et al, 2003).…”

“…The influence of abiotic factors on colonisation behaviour may strongly influence assemblage structure and population dynamics (James et al, 2003;Silberbush et al, 2005). Analysis of assemblages revealed that salinity is a determinant of assemblages that colonise the mesocosms, broadly influencing selective behaviour.…”

“…However, biotic factors, such as behaviour, are also important drivers of organism distribution, but considered less frequently (Stoks & McPeek, 2003;Blaustein et al, 2004). James et al (2003) and Neilsen et al (2003) suggested that behavioural avoidance of saline water bodies may assist the persistence of mobile halosensitive aquatic fauna, but empirical support is needed.…”

Coastal wetlands of temperate eastern Australia: will Cinderella ever go to the ball?

“…I expect this is because it is the only paper on the topic. In contrast, in the review undertaken in 2002 of the salinity responses of the Australian freshwater biota (Bailey et al 2002), we had 169 entries for the salinity tolerance of angiosperms alone (see also the review articles published around this time by Hart et al 2003, James et al 2003and Nielsen et al 2003, all of which dealt largely with the biota of inland, not coastal, systems).…”

Ecological impacts of global warming and water abstraction on lakes and reservoirs due to changes in water level and related changes in salinity

“…; James et al, 2003). Freshwater species may sometimes be replaced by more salt-tolerant species such as three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius), mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) or sand smelt (Atherina presbyter) (Jeppesen et al, 1994;Brucet et al, 2010).…”