The structure and function of communities and biological systems favorable and unfavorable to salt
production in the ponds of solar saltworks are described. Favorable systems maintain a diverse biota
and power the organisms at levels that enable a saltworks to economically and continuously produce
high quality salt at design capacity. Unfavorable systems-the result of disturbances and high concentrations
of nutrients in the water-are dominated by a few species that release massive quantities of
organic substances, decrease pond surface areas and volumes, and decrease salt quality and quantity.
Management practices to obtain and maintain favorable systems under a variety of conditions are
reviewed.