History of research on biodiversity in Crimean hypersaline waters

Abstract

The paper reviews the history of research on the biodiversity of hypersaline waters in the Crimean arid zone from the end of the 18th century to the present. Summing up the accumulated knowledge on biodiversity of these water bodies, the authors have noted the presence of 290 species of eukaryotic organisms, including 190 unicellular ones, and nearly 200 species of bacteria and archaea, of which at least 100 species are represented by cyanobacteria. It has been concluded that the diversity of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms is still understudied. This paper is not an exhaustive review of the history of research on the biodiversity of Crimean hypersaline waters; it is rather a prelude to such a historical study, as well as a call for a broadening and deepening of the scientific knowledge of the unique biodiversity in these extreme habitats.