OCR Text |
Show Table 10. Research needs identified for the biotic system. Research Needs Possible Information Source Group A A quantitative definition of interaction between organisms and organism growth rate. Population dynamics for the lake ecosystem. The relationship between lake salinity conditions and the ecosystem. The toxic effect of pollutants at various concentrations ( buildup in the lake) on the ecosystem. Methods to control brine flies and other noxious insects. Cause of reduced brine shrimp winter egg hatch and relation to brine shrimp population. F. Post ( USU), D. Porcella ( USU) F. Post ( USU), D. Porcella ( USU) F. Post ( USU), D. Porcella ( USU) F. Post ( USU), D. Porcella ( USU) D. Rees ( U of U), N. Collins ( UofU) F. Post ( USU), D. Porcella ( USU), Saunders Brine Shrimp Co., Salt Lake City, Utah Group B Define the relationship between the lake's aquatic community and the marsh land community. Brine fly life cycle and species dominance at various salinity levels. Impact of oil spills on the ecosystem. Energy flow system for the marsh land ecology. The effect on the ecosystem of increasing the nutrient input to the lake. UWRL N. Collins ( U of U) Oil Companies UWRL UWRL predict the water quality impacts between the physical system and the social use system. However, general considerations based on uses of the lake can be identified. Recreational use areas should be free of pathogenic organisms and odors produced by the anaerobic decay of unstabilized organic material. Pathogenic or disease organisms originate from human wastes and enter the lake via inflows or human contact. Research needs related to pathogenic organisms include studies of the survival of coliform bacteria and human virus at different salinity concentrations, the present distribution of these organisms in recreational areas, and their sources. Anaerobic decay occurs when organic materials are decomposed in the absence of oxygen. A product of anaerobic decomposition is hydrogen sulfide gas which has a distinctive rotten egg odor. Anaero- • bic decay occurs in the benthic deposits of most lakes. The low oxygen content of the lake brines increase the likelihood of anaerobic conditions developing. The complete process of organic material decay in the salt lake needs to be studied. Such studies should include identifying the present sources of organic material and their distribution in the brine and bottom sediments, the aerobic and anaerobic decay rates, and the dissolved oxygen supply in the lake. The main requirement of the mineral extraction industry is a high salinity brine. The south arm salt companies, however, have discounted the use of the deep south arm brine because they do not feel a pure salt can be produced. The lower brine is known to be fetid by hydrogen sulfate gas which probably could be solved by aerating the brine. The water quality parameters which make the brine unusable need to be identified. This water quality problem is especially important if future trends of the lake showed the volume of the lower south arm brine was going to increase significantly. Any construction in the lake has the potential of altering the water quality. Construction of facilities to support recreation and mineral extraction may disturb the benthic deposits and adversely affect the water quality. This potential impact should be understood. The construction of dikes and causeways may change the long term circulation patterns in the lake and impact on the distribution of pollutants. Because the physical transport of pollutants plays a major role in their distribution research should be conducted to define the present circulation patterns and to develop a method of predicting any changes in circulation patterns which would result from construction in the lake. The ecologic balance of the lake could be upset by pollution. Heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides could disrupt the ecosystem at various points. Research must be conducted to understand the potential effect of these and other pollutants on the viability of the ecosystem. Nutrients directly affect the lake ecosystem. When the system is not overloaded nutrients can be 46 |