Authors: Cora Rasmuson, Carly Biedul, David Herbst
Mentors: Carly Biedul
Insitution: Westminster College
Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a unique ecosystem known for its elevated saline conditions, supporting diverse biological communities. However, GSL's vital habitats for birds and invertebrates are diminishing due to climate variability and water diversions. The keystone species, Ephydra gracilis, known as brine flies, is central to this ecosystem's food web.
Microbialite mounds of haloarchaea, algae, and cyanobacteria sustain E. gracilis, but receding shorelines and record-low lake levels intensify salinity, reducing food sources and brine fly survivability. This decline has far-reaching consequences, as E. gracilis accounts for over 50% of the diet for 10 million migratory birds at GSL.
Ongoing research is focused on refining methods for monitoring populations of Ephydra species in response to changing salinity and elevation levels. This research is vital for the preservation of the lake's ecosystem and biodiversity.