Abstract
BackgroundThe extraction of salt from seawater by means of coastal solar salterns is a very well-described process. Moreover, the characterization of these environments from ecological, biochemical and microbiological perspectives has become a key focus for many research groups all over the world over the last 20 years. In countries such as Spain, there are several examples of coastal solar salterns (mainly on the Mediterranean coast) and inland solar salterns, from which sodium chloride is obtained for human consumption. However, studies focused on the characterization of inland solar salterns are scarce and both the archaeal diversity and the plant communities inhabiting these environments remain poorly described.ResultsTwo of the inland solar salterns (termed Redonda and Penalva), located in the Alto Vinalopó Valley (Alicante, Spain), were characterized regarding their geological and physico-chemical characteristics and their archaeal and botanical biodiversity. A preliminary eukaryotic diversity survey was also performed using saline water. The chemical characterization of the brine has revealed that the salted groundwater extracted to fill these inland solar salterns is thalassohaline. The plant communities living in this environment are dominated by Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J. Scott, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moris) K. Koch, Suaeda vera Forsk. ex Gmelin (Amaranthaceae) and several species of Limonium (Mill) and Tamarix (L). Archaeal diversity was analyzed and compared by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular phylogenetic techniques. Most of the sequences recovered from environmental DNA samples are affiliated with haloarchaeal genera such as Haloarcula, Halorubrum, Haloquadratum and Halobacterium, and with an unclassified member of the Halobacteriaceae. The eukaryote Dunaliella was also present in the samples.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study constitutes the first analysis centered on inland solar salterns located in the southeastern region of Spain. The results obtained revealed that the salt deposits of this region have marine origins. Plant communities typical of salt marshes are present in this ecosystem and members of the Halobacteriaceae family can be easily detected in the microbial populations of these habitats. Possible origins of the haloarchaea detected in this study are discussed.
Highlights
The extraction of salt from seawater by means of coastal solar salterns is a very well-described process
Halophilic microorganisms living in these environments are distributed among all three domains of life, it has been extensively reported that members of the Halobacteriaceae family constitute the dominant microbial population, especially in those environments where the NaCl concentration ranges from 20% (w/v) up to halite saturation (
Because halophilic archaea are the predominant microorganisms in hot and hypersaline environments, it is possible that they sustain key metabolic cycles under these conditions; the understanding of life under such extreme circumstances has become a key area of research recently [12,13]
Summary
The extraction of salt from seawater by means of coastal solar salterns is a very well-described process. The characterization of these environments from ecological, biochemical and microbiological perspectives has become a key focus for many research groups all over the world over the last 20 years In countries such as Spain, there are several examples of coastal solar salterns (mainly on the Mediterranean coast) and inland solar salterns, from which sodium chloride is obtained for human consumption. Solar salterns are restricted to areas such as Mediterranean regions, where the climate is characterized by periods during which evaporation exceeds precipitation This process is especially rapid in summertime when highly salted water flows through an increasingly concentrated pool until ponds crystallize. Populations of halophilic bacteria and other members of Eukarya are present in saltern ponds [7,8] To thrive under these conditions, halophilic archaea accumulate potassium ions inside their cells to balance the high salt content of the environment. Because halophilic archaea are the predominant microorganisms in hot and hypersaline environments, it is possible that they sustain key metabolic cycles under these conditions; the understanding of life under such extreme circumstances has become a key area of research recently [12,13]
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