Istanbul:An international study has highlighted the threat posed by climate change and excessive water use to salt lakes globally. These lakes are crucial habitats for 200 species that are classified as threatened or near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the study titled "The Overlooked Conservation Values of Saline Lakes" was published in the journal Nature Communications in September and involved 26 scientists from around the world. It examined threatened species and ecosystem services across 85 salt lakes worldwide, focusing on those with a long-term average salinity exceeding 1 gram per liter.

The research found that these salt lakes represent more than 45% of the global volume of lake water and 23% of the total surface area of lakes globally. The study assessed various lake types, including 27 soda lakes, 40 inland sulfate and chloride lakes, and 18 coastal lakes of marine origin, with salinity levels ranging from 1 to 375 grams per liter.

The study further revealed that 53% of the threatened or near-threatened species associated with these lakes are birds, with the remainder including fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Nurgul Balci, head of the Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Laboratory at Istanbul Technical University, emphasized the ecological significance of these lakes, noting their extensive food webs and their role as critical habitats for migratory birds. Balci pointed out that salt lakes are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their location in closed drainage basins, where water levels are highly sensitive to changes in precipitation, temperature, and water usage in surrounding areas.