Identification and analysis of ecosystem services associated with biodiversity of saltworks

Saltworks are artificial ecosystems that are exploited for salt production. These extreme environments create particular habitats for a diversity of species. In “extreme” environments organisms must adapt to stressful environmental conditions. Saltworks are particularly influenced by biotic factors, such as biodiversity and its interspecific interactions, which are linked to abiotic factors. The large variation of abiotic factors in extreme ecosystems helps explain the causal relationships between them, as well as the structure of the communities that inhabit them. Species that live in these habitats develop adaption strategies in order to survive and reproduce. Despite the important role of saltwork communities, especially regarding the ecological aspects of the biota of high saline environments that remain poorly understood, few studies have been carried out in these ecosystems. In this context saltworks are a particularly interesting type of study given that they contain a large diversity of species and environments. Many ecosystems are found around Salinor, such as: mangroves, flooded areas and Caatinga vegetation fragments. Based on existing literature, we were able to identify 13 types of services, of which one pertained to support services, two pertained to regulation services, five pertained to provision services and four pertained to cultural services. Most of the studies we consulted were classified as support services (36.36%), whereas biodiversity maintenance was present in 100% of these studies. The second category corresponded to provision services (22.73%). With respect to regulation services, five studies examined water quality maintenance (62.50%), one study examined climate regulation (12.50%), and the other two examined pest and disease control (25%). The studies that focused on cultural services examined tourism (41.67%), cultural and historical values (25%) and scientific research (33.33%). With respect to the study carried out in Salinor, we were able to identify a considerable number of ecosystem services. From our analysis of the biodiversity found in this saltwork, we were able to identify a total of 42 ecosystem services generated by the different habitats (mangroves, flooded areas, Caatinga, evaporation and crystallizer ponds). Although it is considered to be an artificial ecosystem, Salinor and its surroundings preserve natural characteristics, therefore demonstrating great potential to supply of ecosystem services. These ecosystem services consist of four types of ecosystem functions, such as food supply, biodiversity maintenance, carbon sequestration, research and ecotourism.