Historie, aktuelle Situation und Entwicklungsperspektiven der Salzflora

Abstract

HEINO JOHN, FRANK MEYER, UNA RAUCHHAUS & GABRIELE WEIß: History, current state and developmental prospects of the salt flora at the former Iake Salziger See (Mansfelder Land district, Germany). - Hercynia 33 (2000): 219-244. The water of the Iake Salziger See in the federal state of Sachsen-Anhalt drained away in 1892 toward mines of copper slate. After mining had been abandoned, the government of Sachsen-Anhalt decided 1 to restore the Iake. Intensive agricultural use of the Iake bottarn and the long history of mining in the ! vicinity of the Iake basin has strongly influenced the appearance of the landscape. Thus, it is not possible to reestablish the former state completely. Nevertheless, we expect that the water of the t"uture Iake will attain a certain Ievel of salt just like in the past. Ascending salty ground water will hence be of great importance. According to comparative investigations carried out in the 1990s the salt flora showed Iosses of some species in the last hundred years; nevertheless, it was possible to detect currently a multitude of rare halophytes and salt tolerant species at the former shore line and in the environment of the Iake basin. I Based on historical and present recordings, there are a total of 57 autochthonaus salt plant species in the Iake basin and this number increases to 62 when we include the immediate surroundings. Due to the dramatic changes in the habitat conditions some species have been lost or locally extinct. With a current species number of 41 in the basin and 50 including its surroundings, this site belongs to the most important inland (noncoastal) salt plant locations in Germany. As a sanctuary for plant and animal species that are highly endaugered or threatened it is of national and even european significance. Factars affecting the development of the rare plant species are discussed and proposals for their protection are submitted. In the case of reestablishing the Iake, the historical sites along the former shore line with a diverse salt flora will serve as sources for the dispersal of valuable species.