Pannonian salt steppes and salt marshes

Extreme habitat

Pannonian salt steppes and salt marshes form various important habitats. They are all characterized by salty soils and a variety of salt plants. Salt plants and salt marshes are halophilic [Greek "salt-loving"] or salt-tolerant and thrive in saline environments as they have few competitors due to the salty soil. These organisms have adapted to life in salty soils and can tolerate high salt concentrations. Over the course of evolution, they have developed a wide range of adaptation strategies to cope with high salt content, a lack of oxygen and regular flooding.

Typical representatives on saline sites are the saltwort (Salicornia prostrata) or the salt cress (Lepidium cartilagineum). As soon as the edges of the puddles have dried out and it is warm enough, the plants use the short time to germinate and flower. In the winter months, when the soda pans fill up with water again, the halophytes have completed their development and the seeds wait in the salty soil of the pansies until the conditions are favorable again to germinate.