Salinity impacts on river ecosystem processes: a critical mini-review.

Elisabeth Berger, Oliver Frör, Ralf B Schäfer
Author Information
  1. Elisabeth Berger: Department of Quantitative Landscape Ecology, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany berger@uni-landau.de. ORCID
  2. Oliver Frör: Department of Environmental Economics, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany.
  3. Ralf B Schäfer: Department of Quantitative Landscape Ecology, University Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829 Landau, Germany.

Abstract

In many dry parts of the world, salinization of water resources threatens freshwater biodiversity and the livelihood of people. However, ecological impact studies remain scarce. Here, we review field-observations of salinity impacts on ecosystem processes such as leaf decomposition, metabolism, biomass production and nutrient cycling, with a special emphasis on dryland ecosystems. In addition, we discuss the potential linkages of these processes to ecosystem service delivery-the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems-as additional nature conservation arguments and the challenges associated with this endeavour.This article is part of the theme issue 'Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects'.

Keywords

References

  1. J Hazard Mater. 2016 Aug 5;313:147-58 [PMID: 27060864]
  2. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2012 Nov 19;367(1606):3062-75 [PMID: 23045705]
  3. Science. 2016 Feb 26;351(6276):914-6 [PMID: 26917752]
  4. Sci Total Environ. 2016 Jan 15;541:491-501 [PMID: 26410723]
  5. Environ Pollut. 2013 Feb;173:157-67 [PMID: 23202646]
  6. Sci Total Environ. 2018 Jan 1;610-611:961-971 [PMID: 28830056]
  7. Nature. 2009 Sep 24;461(7263):472-5 [PMID: 19779433]
  8. Sci Total Environ. 2017 Oct 15;596-597:465-480 [PMID: 28458222]
  9. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509917]
  10. Sci Total Environ. 2012 Jan 15;415:69-78 [PMID: 21802709]
  11. J Appl Ecol. 2018;55(1):353-364 [PMID: 29681651]
  12. Environ Geochem Health. 2011 Aug;33(4):363-70 [PMID: 21416220]
  13. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509908]
  14. Ecol Appl. 2017 Apr;27(3):833-844 [PMID: 27992971]
  15. Sci Total Environ. 2015 Dec 15;538:246-61 [PMID: 26311581]
  16. Sci Total Environ. 2014 Apr 1;476-477:634-42 [PMID: 24503334]
  17. Nature. 2008 Mar 13;452(7184):202-5 [PMID: 18337819]
  18. Proc Biol Sci. 2015 Oct 22;282(1817):20151348 [PMID: 26468240]
  19. Oecologia. 2017 Sep;185(1):147-156 [PMID: 28762176]
  20. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509925]
  21. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2012 Oct;31(10):2306-10 [PMID: 22821388]
  22. Oecologia. 2003 Jan;134(2):238-50 [PMID: 12647165]
  23. Sci Total Environ. 2017 Dec 1;599-600:1638-1645 [PMID: 28535592]
  24. Sci Total Environ. 2017 Feb 1;579:1496-1503 [PMID: 27916312]
  25. Nature. 2010 Sep 30;467(7315):555-61 [PMID: 20882010]
  26. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509913]
  27. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509926]
  28. Science. 2014 Sep 26;345(6204):1558-60 [PMID: 25258063]
  29. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Dec 3;374(1764): [PMID: 30509905]
  30. Aquat Toxicol. 2016 Aug;177:425-32 [PMID: 27393920]

MeSH Term

Animals
Ecosystem
Invertebrates
Plant Leaves
Plant Physiological Phenomena
Rivers
Salinity
Vertebrates
Water Pollution, Chemical

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0ecosystemsalinizationfreshwaterecologicalimpactsprocessesmanydrypartsworldwaterresourcesthreatensbiodiversitylivelihoodpeopleHoweverimpactstudiesremainscarcereviewfield-observationssalinityleafdecompositionmetabolismbiomassproductionnutrientcyclingspecialemphasisdrylandecosystemsadditiondiscusspotentiallinkagesservicedelivery-thebenefitshumansderiveecosystems-asadditionalnatureconservationargumentschallengesassociatedendeavourThisarticlepartthemeissue'Saltfreshwaters:causesconsequencesfutureprospects'Salinityriverprocesses:criticalmini-reviewdesertriversfunctionsmanagement

Similar Articles

Cited By