Salinity as a determinant of the structure of biological communities in salt lakes

The paper considers the extent to which salinity determines the structure of biological communities (composition and species richness and diversity) in saline lakes, i.e. inland bodies of water with salinities in excess of 3 g l-1. It also considers the extent to which oxygen, ionic composition, pH, hydrological patterns (degree of permanence and impermanence of water), geographical position, palaeoclimatic events, chance, human intervention, and biological interactions especially predation determine biological communities in salt lakes. It suggests that salinity is less significant as a determinant of community structure in salt lakes than has been assumed.