"Discovery of New Species in Great Salt Lake Alters Ecosystem Understanding"

Scientists have discovered a third form of multicellular life, nematodes, in the Great Salt Lake, challenging the long-held belief that only brine shrimp and brine flies inhabited the ultra-saline waters. These worms, found in microbialites on the lake bed, are uniquely adapted to the extreme salinity and may be at risk of disappearing as the lake's water levels decrease due to human usage and climate change. The study highlights the urgent need to understand and protect this unique ecosystem before it collapses completely.