Biological features of lagoons, which may potentially be affected by changes in water quality in temperate areas, include:

• eelgrass beds (Zostera spp.);
• charophytes;
• other lagoonal aquatic plants (tasselweed, pondweed);
• specialist lagoonal invertebrates;
• fish.

Very little information exists on the sensitivity of such features to changes in water quality, in particular to changes in nutrient levels. For an understanding of the known impacts of specific toxic and non-toxic contaminants in saline waters, the reader is recommended to consult a complementary report produced as part of the UK Marine SACs Project (Cole et al 1999). What information could be found relevant to saline lagoons is summarised in the sections linked above.

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