Saline Systems highlights for 2005

The first volume of Saline Systems [1] included research papers from genomics and proteomics to physiology, ecology, and limnology. On the molecular end of the spectrum, a paper by McCready et al. [2] provided an insightful DNA microarray study on the effects of UV radiation on gene expression in a model extreme halophile, which is highly resistant to solar radiation. Results indicated that genes for homologous recombination are induced by UV. Another molecular study was published by Kan et al. [3] on the environmental proteomics of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA. This study demonstrated the power of metaproteomics to link taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, and biological processes in natural environments.

In one microbial ecology paper, Echigo et al. [4] surveyed the greater Tokyo area of Japan for halophilic bacteria, from the seashore to inland regions. Although samples collected from the seashore yielded much smaller total numbers of bacteria than those of inland soil samples, the numbers of halophilic bacteria per gram were nearly the same. These results suggested that halophiles may be dispersed via dust storms originating in deserts in the interior Asia. In another ecological study, Major et al. [5] published the first in a series designed to catalog and characterize the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge ecosystem in Oklahoma, USA. Despite the harsh and highly variable conditions observed in this environment, a higher than expected phototrophic species diversity was observed.

Two research papers relevant to aquaculture reported studies on shrimp species, Branchipus schaefferi and Artemia franciscana. Sarma et al. [6] reported that both survival and offspring production of B. schaefferi are reduced at higher salinity levels, suggesting that this species is unlikely to be successful in colonizing inland saline water bodies and that proper conservation measures must be taken for their protection. Camargo et al. [7] reported studies on A. franciscana occurring along the Colombian Caribbean coast, focusing on the species' quality for marine larvaeculture and aquaculture.

Three reviews appeared in the first volume on diverse aspects of saline systems. A historical review was provided by Oren [8] on halophilic algal species of Dunaliella, some of which can tolerate a wide range of salinity. This paper was a retrospective to mark the centennial of the discovery of these intriguing halophiles. Second, an extensive review of the organic compatible solutes of halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms was published by Roberts [9]. This review included both biosynthetic pathway information and the properties of compatible solutes that effect molecular stability. Third, a comprehensive review of saline lakes in the Great Plains region of western Canada authored by Last and Ginn [10] presented hydrochemical analysis of 800 lakes.

A review of a new treatise on halophilic microorganisms was published in volume 1 of Saline Systems by Rensing [11]. This book entitled "Adaptation to life at high salt concentrations in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya" collected the proceedings of a triennial conference, "Halophiles", which was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in September 2004. Finally, reflections on the 9th International Conference on Salt Lake Research held in Perth, Australia in September 2005 were published in a commentary by Jellison [12].

An important footnote is that our publisher, BioMed Central, is introducing article-processing charges (APCs) from January 1, 2006 onwards to recover the cost of publication. APCs are essential for the sustainability of open access publishing in general and for the success of Saline Systems in particular. Authors should note that open access, made economically viable through APCs, provides many advantages over the traditional subscription model with its restriction to access and dissemination of knowledge (authors know that the existence of subscriptions does not exclude page and/or color charges). In the open access model, authors continue to retain copyright ownership to their publications and do not have to be concerned about the length of their manuscript or the number of figures, since the APC is a flat charge. The use of color does not incur any additional charges, and the articles are archived in perpetuity in the US NIH's PubMed Central and other archives and repositories, with free access over the world-wide-web.

Authors affiliated with institutional members of BioMed Central, of which there are over 500 at present, will continue to enjoy the advantages of membership. In many cases this will be a full waiver of APCs, although in some cases it will be a partial waiver, depending on the membership type. For those authors with hardship cases, individual waiver requests will be considered and may be granted in cases of lack of funds. A waiver application is required during the submission process, and a decision on the waiver will normally be made within two working days.

The past year was an exciting, fruitful, and successful inaugural year for Saline Systems. In 2006, we invite submissions of high quality manuscripts on all aspects of halophiles and saline environments.