(Haloferax volcanii)
These organisms
thrive under severely salty conditions. These conditions make the
maintenance of homeostasis a struggle, but a wide variety of halophiles
have been discovered. These organisms are left in a constant battle with
osmosis. They must counteract the saltiness of their environment by
producing massive quantities of a solution inside their cell wall.
Halophilia has been known to go hand in hand with alkalophilia, as in the
case of the African soda-lake Nakuru, which supports life. Many types of
eukaryotes find Extreme halophiles can live in water that is very
close to saline saturation.
Algae species, Pseudo-nitzschia australis (above)
produce potent toxins which are liberated when the algae are eaten.
Saline Ocean