D3194: The impact at salinity changes on Ephydra gracilis in Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake (GSL) supports extensive biological and wildlife diversity. Within the elevated saline conditions, the lake’s already finite resources are diminishing. A notable keystone species in this ecosystem web is Ephyra gracilis, commonly referred to as brine flies. Microbialites, a biological community of halophilic bacteria, algae, and cyanobacteria are the main food source for the flies. Record-low lake levels and receding shorelines expose microbialite mounds which cannot support larvae and pupating brine flies and drastic drops in population have been observed. E. gracilis are primarily predated by migratory birds, and current circumstances are grim for foraging shorebirds and waterfowl. Research on E. gracilis is crucial for conserving the lake ecosystem and biodiversity. Research is underway to monitor the larva and pupal populations of this species as the salinity and elevation levels of GSL change. This study will create a baseline to monitor larva and pupal stages of E. gracilis across salinity gradients and in various levels of habitat desiccation across the lake. Preliminary data will be collected late summer and synthesized in early Fall 2023.