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Show 3. Brine shrimp a.) Brine shrimp populations are affected by many factors, including salinity, temperature, types and amounts of algae available, brine shrimp harvesting, and others. b.) Brine shrimp are not widespread or sensitive enough to be used as the best indicator of the overall condition of the lake. Monitoring the condition of the GSL system should consider a community of species rather than a single species as an indicator species. 4. Additional ecosystem components a.) Other invertebrates are important in areas where brine shrimp are scarce or are absent ( given the variability of GSL no one species or group is a reliable indicator of ecosystem condition). Primary producers are the most sensitive indicators of abiotic components of this system. b.) A huge data gap exists in DNR's understanding of winter productivity of GSL. c.) Spatial and temporal variability is likely the reason for the incredible productivity of this system. A healthy GSL ecosystem is a variable one. d.) The impacts of temperature, light, nutrient availability, and possibly other factors, as well as combinations of variables, on the GSL ecosystem are not adequately considered. In order to address the question of whether GSL ecosystem is " healthy", long term ( 10s to 100s of years) data is needed. For certain critical variables, for example nutrients, such data is presently unavailable. e.) The role of sediments and sedimentation patterns in the ecosystem throughout the lake is not well understood. f.) The PD should expand its discussions of fish to include carp in Bear River Bay and the native chub. 5. Management issues a.) Lake level fluctuations are an integral part of the lake ecosystem. To the extent that DNR managers can allow for natural fluctuations into their plans rather than attempting to control fluctuations, they will enhance ecosystem processes. b.) Bureaucracies have trouble looking at systems as systems. Present institutional boundaries limit the ability of DNR to consider ecosystems. There is no agency within DNR assigned to champion or monitor the GSL as a system. c.) The PD grossly undervalues the non- traditional resources of GSL. Cultural resources are discussed ( 2 pages) but the PD does not recognize the value of the sediments of GSL for their historic record of climate change and documentation of earth system processes. Educational resources of GSL are discussed primarily in terms 228 |