A Review of the Ecological and Hydrological Dynamics of Rewasa Salt Lake: Implications for Avian Diversity and Water Quality Management

Abstract

Rewasa Salt Lake, situated in Sikar, Rajasthan, India, is an ecologically significant hypersaline water body in the arid Thar Desert. As an endorheic lake, it accumulates salts due to the absence of outflow, creating a unique environment characterized by high salinity levels. Despite the harsh climatic conditions, it supports a variety of specialized flora and fauna, including halophytic plants and migratory bird species. The lake plays a critical role in the Central Asian Flyway, providing a vital stopover for migratory birds. However, human-induced pressures such as agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and industrial pollution threaten the lake’s water quality, leading to a transition from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions, which disrupts the ecosystem. This review explores the key physicochemical parameters of salt lakes, including salinity, pH, temperature, and nutrient concentrations, which govern biodiversity. These factors influence species distribution, food availability, and the physiological tolerances of organisms in such extreme environments. Salt lakes, though challenging habitats, are crucial for supporting bird species like Wilson’s Phalaropes and American Avocets, which have adapted to high salinity environments through specialized salt glands and behavioral strategies. However, anthropogenic activities have caused nutrient loading, eutrophication, and alterations to the lake’s ecological balance, impacting both invertebrate and avian populations.

The review further compares Rewasa Salt Lake with other saline lakes globally highlighting shared challenges of salinization, contamination, and the need for effective conservation strategies. The importance of maintaining water quality, regulating nutrient inputs, and implementing sustainable management practices is emphasized. The paper concludes by recommending integrated management approaches involving monitoring of physicochemical parameters, mitigation of pollution, and community engagement to preserve the ecological integrity of Rewasa Salt Lake and similar ecosystems. Such efforts are essential to sustain the biodiversity and ecological services provided by these unique habitats.