| Description |
The research upon which this report is based was carried on from January 1935 to March 1936. During this period the Great Salt Lake reached its lowest level in recorded history. The water was as concentrated as at any time in the last eighty six years. At times during this period both sodium chloride and sodium sulphate were in super-saturation in the lake. At no time in the lake's history have better conditions prevailed in which to make a critical study of the relationship of the bacteria in the lake to the lake itself. This report is divided into three parts. In the introductory part, it is the general purpose to suggest the unlimited possibilities of the Great Salt Lake as a field of biological research, to briefly describe the lake, and in so doing, to suggest a rich field for physical research. As introduction, is presented also a description of the methods used in these investigations. The second part is the presentation of indirect evidence that there may be bacteria that are living a normal existence in the lake. This material is of such a nature that one may deduce from it that there may be a normal bacterial flora in the lake. This information is both original and quoted. The third part presents evidence indicating directly, without interpretation, that at least some of the bacteria in the lake find in the lake a suitable habitat. This evidence is largely original. |
