## 3 Results  
### Nutritional Assessments  
The results for crude protein, ash, and total lipids are summarized in Figure 2 and fully detailed in Appendix A, Table 10. Crude protein levels ranged between 39.4 to 189.4 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM across seasons, being frequently lower in the dry periods (Su/Au), with most species barely meeting the limit established for animal maintenance (70 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) [7]. In contrast, during Sp, most species had adequate levels of protein (87.3-132.7 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), with the exceptions including _P. lentiscus_ and _C. martima_, while in Wi, the _I. crithmoides_, _L. monopetulum_, _P. coronopus_, _M. marina_, and _C. soldanella_ samples exceeded this threshold (91.4-189.4 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM). Overall, the highest protein values were observed in _M. marina_during Wi/Sp (132.7-139.4 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) and, exceptionally, in _C. soldanella_ during Wi (189.4 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM). Total lipid contents differed among species: _L. monopetulum_ recorded the lowest levels (34.4-44.1 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), followed by _C. mariscus_ (48.9-53.3 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) and _M. marina_ (45.9-55.1 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM). Conversely, the highest lipid contents were registered in _C. soldanella_ (141.9-250.1 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), showing levels declining in dry seasons, and _H. italicum_ (90.9-142.7 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), which peaked in Au/Wi. Ash contents showed a broad range from 49.3 to 326.6 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM, depending on the species and season. While _H. italicum, P. lenticus_, _C. mariscus_, and _M. marina_ exhibited adequate ash levels, _L. monopetulum_ and _I. crithmoides_ stood out for their remarkably high ash content (148.3-326.6 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), accompanied by lower GE values (3.3-3.8 Mcal g\({}^{-1}\); Appendix A, Table A2). As illustrated by [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2019) [26], GE is highly dependent on ash, lipid, and protein concentrations, and therefore, it decreases with substantial increases in ash. In agreement, the highest GE values were recorded for the _C. soldanella_, particularly in Sp (GE = 5.2 Mcal kg\({}^{-1}\)), and _H. italicum_ (GE = 4.5-4.7 Mcal kg\({}^{-1}\)) samples, following the trend of higher lipid contents.  
Macromineral analysis revealed high levels throughout the year for most samples, with some exceptions: _C. mariscus_ had reduced potassium (K) and Mg levels, while _M. marina_ exhibited lower K content during Au (Figure 3). Regarding trace minerals, except for _C. mariscus_ in Wi, all samples surpassed Fe dietary recommendations (40 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) DM), remaining within maximum tolerable levels (MTL) [31]. Similarly, the Zn content of most samples was adequate, except _L. monopetulum_ in Su, whilst _H. italicum_ was the only species with high levels of copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) for all seasons. _H. italicum_ stood out since its macromineral and trace mineral profiles were consistently greater throughout seasons for every element tested. _I. crithmoides_, _C. mariscus_, _P. coronopus_, and _C. maritima_ exhibited Cu contents adequate for animal maintenance, whereas _C. soldanella_ had increased levels in Au/Wi. Following _H. italicum_, _C. maritima_ and _C. mariscus_ showed high levels of Mn in the four sampled seasons, along with _C. soldanella_ collected in Su and Au.  
Figure 2: Seasonal variations of the crude protein, ash, and total lipid contents (g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) of halophytes and salt-tolerant species biomass. \(\dagger\), data published in [25]. Different symbols and colors represent the seasons as follows: spring (Sp), green flower; summer (Su), yellow sun; autumn (Au), brown leaf; winter (Wi), blue snowflake. HI, _H. italicum picardii_; IC, _I. crithmoides_; PL, _P. lenticus_; CS, _C. soldanella_; CM, _C. mariscus_; MM, _M. marina_; PC, _P. coronopus_; LM, _L. monopelulum_; CC, _C. marí