The Great Salt Lake ecosystem is currently facing endangerment due to a loss of elevation driven by climate change and water diversions, according to information released July 17 by the Great Salt Lake Institute. These environmental shifts have led to increased salinity levels that threaten both the shoreline plants and the lake's diverse biological inhabitants.
Threats to Lake Ecosystem
The Great Salt Lake Institute noted in its July 17 report that the lake serves as a critical habitat for approximately ten million migratory birds. These birds rely on the salty waters to feed on various invertebrates that thrive within the ecosystem and utilize the unique plant life found along the saline shoreline.
However, the institute warned that the rising salinity levels resulting from decreased water levels can be detrimental to the lake's biota. This includes organisms living within the water itself as well as the specialized plants that inhabit the lake's edges.
Ongoing Biological Research
To better understand these environmental changes, research students at the Great Salt Lake Institute are actively studying several components of the lake's complex system. Their work focuses on the relationship between brine flies and the microbialites that serve as their food source.
Additionally, researchers are examining the specific microbes and shoreline plants that live among the root systems of the lake's vegetation. This ongoing study aims to track how the changing chemical composition of the water affects the biological foundation of the entire ecosystem.
Spiral Jetty as Research Site
The extreme hypersaline environment of Gunnison Bay, also known as the north arm of the lake, provides a vital site for scientific investigation. The Great Salt Lake Institute identified the Spiral Jetty as one of the few accessible points for students and faculty to collect samples of halophilic microorganisms from these intense waters.
Created in 1970 by artist Robert Smithson, the Spiral Jetty is a 1,500-foot coiled earthwork made of black basalt. The dark stone provides a stark visual contrast against the pink-hued waters of the bay, which get their color from the high concentration of microbes.
Impact of Scientific Study
While the Spiral Jetty is a world-renowned piece of land art, it also serves a functional purpose for the Great Salt Lake Institute's scientific mission. The institute confirmed on July 17 that the research conducted by both the institute and Dr. Baxter does not negatively impact the integrity of the artwork.
Instead, the institute stated that their research efforts are designed to further the human understanding of extreme halophiles. These microorganisms are responsible for the intense, vibrant hues found in the waters surrounding the jetty.
Legacy of the Installation
The Spiral Jetty remains a long-term installation located at Rozel Point in Box Elder County, Utah. The artwork's presence continues to bridge the gap between cultural significance and environmental science in the Great Salt Lake region.