OCR Text |
Show ANIMAL LIFE BACTERIA There are eleven species of bacteria in Great Salt Lake brines. These bacteria cause decay in dead algae, animals and organic wastes, polluting the air near the Lake with a foul odor at times during the summer. ( Flowers and Evans, 1966) Although most of the few bacteriology studies of the Great Salt Lake were conducted before the causeway was constructed, most of the work is thought to apply to the south end of the Lake today. The studies have revealed a restricted group of bacteria with tolerance of moderate to high salt concentrations. Studies on the survival of enteric bacteria ( originating from the sewage of the Wasatch Front) indicate that the intestinal bacteria do not survive long. Little is known about the survival of human viruses in the Lake. One study on heterotrophic bacteria ( F. J. Post, 1972- 74) indicates that the purple color of the North Arm is due largely to bacteria of the genera Halolacterium and Halococous, present in numbers from 1,000,000 to 100,000,000 per ml. The large numbers of bacteria, DunaZt- ietla vividis and D. salina and brine shrimp found in the North Arm, which is saturated with sodium chloride, suggest that there are large concentrations of nutrients and organic matter. Further study concerning concentrations, nutrient cycling and limiting factors in the Lake could help man to control nuisances associated with the Lake and to understand and control man's effects on the Lake community as a whole. ( Post) |