For the 2nd year in a row, Great Salt Lake reached brand-new historical low levels. The lake gets its water from numerous rivers and rainfall, however as long-lasting dry spell, increasing water use, and the truth of environment modification embeded in, less water is concerning Great Salt Lake. This leads to greater concentration of salts. While organisms of Terrific Salt Lake’s South Arm Community (Gilbert Bay) have actually developed to endure greater levels of salinity than a lot of, they do have limitations. For example, salt water fly larvae and salt water shrimp, and their primary sources of food– microbial mats and their algae and germs are approaching– and even reaching– salinity limits.
While Utah actively deals with services to get more water to Great Salt Lake and support salinity levels, the preservation neighborhood, state firms and stakeholders are beginning to think of the prospective ramifications to the migratory birds that count on this environment and its food resources. Many bird types will opportunistically eat different life phases of salt water flies and salt water shrimp, however what bird types greatly count on these briny macroinvertebrates? What is their level of dependence? What portion of their populations exist at Great Salt Lake, and when?
National Audubon Society’s Saline Lakes Program, in collaboration with the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources’ Terrific Salt Lake Community Program, dealt with local bird professionals to respond to these concerns. The partners recognized 7 bird types, and utilizing both released and unpublished clinical literature, developed summary tables concentrated on their populations, timing, food resources, and environment choices throughout their time at Great Salt Lake. The types consist of:
- Wilson’s Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Eared Grebe
- Northern Shoveler
- Green-winged Teal
- Typical Goldeneye
- California Gull
In addition, for 3 of these types that rely the most on salt water flies and salt water shrimp– Eared Grebes, Wilson’s Phalaropes, and Red-necked Phalaropes— we developed more thorough types profiles to highlight each.
It is very important to comprehend the important significance of Great Salt Lake to Eared Grebes and Wilson’s Phalaropes. Historically, Great Salt Lake hosted 50-95% of the North American population of Eared Grebes. While they check out Terrific Salt Lake each fall by the millions, adult birds will invest 3 to 5 months molting their plumes and developing energy reserves feeding primarily on salt water shrimp. Throughout this time, their flight muscles atrophy leaving them flightless. This loss of the ability to fly makes Eared Grebes particularly susceptible to altering ecological conditions, especially if there are modifications in salt water shrimp densities or their dietary worth can not offer correct nourishment to the grebes. Some 33-40% of the worldwide population of Wilson’s Phalaropes pertain to Great Salt Lake each year, peaking in July in August, primarily to eat different life phases of salt water flies. While they are not rather as susceptible as Eared Grebes, both these types are extremely depending on healthy populations of salt water flies and salt water shrimp. What takes place if the salt water flies and shrimp are not here when the grebes and phalaropes show up?
Audubon and its partners are actively participated in checking out chances, information spaces and research study requires to guarantee the future health of Great Salt Lake’s environment and the birds that count on it.
If you want to find out more about these types, you can have a look at the links to these files listed below.
