Biodiversity overview of soda pans in the Vojvodina region (Serbia)

Abstract

Due to their specific physical and chemical properties of water and soil soda pans of the Vojvodina region represent a unique type of habitats. Salinity is a major structuring factor which strongly affects species richness. Many halotolerant, alkalotolerant and halophilic organisms, together with numerous eurytopic elements inhabit these kinds of ecosystems. In this review we tried to compile the biodiversity information from various literature sources and give the best representation of what can be expected to be found in these shallow, temporary and intermittent aquatic environments. Only a few groups of organisms are fairly well studied, while many others are insufficiently investigated or the knowledge of them is lacking altogether. Best investigated are certain groups of algae and birds. Bacterial communities, as well as many invertebrate groups, are poorly studied or not investigated at all. Characteristic elements of flora and fauna, together with growing anthropogenic pressures make soda pans prime targets for protection.

Trait‐based diatom functional diversity as an appropriate tool for understanding the effects of environmental changes in soda pans

“…The status of soda pans is dependent upon the maintenance of their natural hydrological cycle (Stenger‐Kovács et al, ). Drying out is a natural and required feature of the pans (Gavrilović et al, ), and this, in turn, can radically reduce functional diversity (B.‐Béres et al, ). Under pristine ecological status, not only small species numbers and species‐based diversity (Stenger‐Kovács et al, ), but also restricted trait variations can be found in the present study: Motile, small, elongated diatom species are characteristic (e.g., Nitzschia austriaca Hustedt, Nitzschia aurariae Cholnoky , Craticula elkab (O. Muller ex O. Muller) Lange‐Bertalot, Kusber & Cocquyt), indicating the harsh (high conductivity and turbidity, temporary drying out) environment (Stenger‐Kovács et al, ).…”

First finding of a genus Haslea Simonsen in Serbia and new diatom taxa for the country's flora in extreme and unique habitats in the Vojvodina Province

“…Investigations of diatoms in saline habitats have been sporadic, not only in Serbia, but also in Europe. Gavrilović et al (2018) provide an overview of diatom research in this type of habitat in Serbia. However, a detailed study has been done only on Lake Velika Rusanda, an alkaline soda lake, where 27 diatom taxa were recorded (Vidaković et al 2019).…”

“…Organisms capable of surviving in these environments developed some adaptations which help them to overcome challenges caused by extreme factors like osmotic stress or desicca-tion in temporary ponds. Thus, mainly alkaliphilous and salt-tolerant species can be found in salt ponds and marshes (Stenger-Kovács & Lengyel 2015;Żelazna-Wieczorek et al 2015;Ács et al 2017;Gavrilović et al 2018). Moreover, it is known that the specific nature of these habitats can lead to regional endemicity in some taxonomic groups (Williams 2002).…”

“…However, athalassohaline waters can also support diverse diatom communities, in both the benthos and the epiphyton (Vidaković et al 2019). Even though some investigations have dealt with diatom diversity in salt ponds and marshes in Serbia (Gavrilović et al 2018), there is an urgent need for one comprehensive study that will include all salt habitats in Vojvodina. Vidaković et al (2019) recently published the first diatom list for Lake Velika Rusanda, one of the largest saline lakes in Serbia.…”

Can a benthic diatom community complement chemical analyses and discriminate between disturbed and undisturbed saline wetland habitats? A study of seven soda pans in Serbia

“…Continental saline waters are unique and extreme environments, inhabited by specific biota, with high conservation value (Williams 2002;Gavrilović et al 2018). In recent years, one type of these habitats has been attracting the attention of biologists who have tried to develop a system of new biological quality elements or indicators for assessment of its ecological status.…”