Planktonic standing crop and nutrients in a saltern ecosystem 1

The brines in the seawater concentrating ponds and NaCl crystallizing ponds of the Exportadora de Sal saltern contain little dissolved nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate. The phytoplanktonic standing crop in the concentrators is relatively low and kept in check by brine shrimp grazing. The concentration of red halophilic bacteria in the crystallizers is dependent on brine density. Bacteriorhodopsin is present. Bitterns ponds are relatively nutrient-rich but apparently are devoid of life.