Scientists have discovered a previously unknown animal species living in the Great Salt Lake, expanding scientific understanding of how life survives in one of North America’s most extreme environments. Researchers from the University of Utah have identified a tiny roundworm, or nematode, that represents a species new to science and may be unique to the lake.
The newly identified species has been named Diplolaimelloides woaabi becoming the first nematode ever confirmed to inhabit the hypersaline waters of the Great Salt Lake. The discovery was detailed in a recent study that also suggests the possible presence of a second, yet-to-be-confirmed new species. The research highlights the lake’s hidden biodiversity and raises important questions about its fragile ecosystem.
The species name was chosen in collaboration with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Tribal elders proposed the word “Wo’aabi,” meaning “worm,” to acknowledge the Indigenous communities whose ancestral lands include the Great Salt Lake. Scientists involved in the study said the naming reflects a commitment to respectful collaboration and recognition of Indigenous knowledge.
Nematodes are among the most abundant animals on Earth and are found in environments ranging from deep-sea vents to polar ice and garden soil. Despite their ubiquity, none had been formally identified in the Great Salt Lake until 2022. The breakthrough came when researchers collected samples from microbialites hard, mound-like structures formed by microbial communities on the lakebed during field expeditions conducted by kayak and bicycle.
Lead researcher Michael Werner, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Utah, said the team suspected early on that the nematodes represented a new species. However, confirming this required years of detailed taxonomic and genetic analysis. The findings revealed that the species belongs to the genus Diplolaimelloides, a group of free-living nematodes usually found in coastal marine or brackish environments.
The discovery makes nematodes only the third group of multicellular animals known to survive in the Great Salt Lake, alongside brine shrimp and brine flies. These animals form the base of a food web that supports millions of migratory birds each year. Scientists believe the newly discovered nematode may also play an important, though still poorly understood, role in the lake’s ecological balance.
One of the most intriguing questions raised by the study is how the nematodes arrived in the lake. The Great Salt Lake lies hundreds of miles from the ocean and sits at a high elevation. One hypothesis suggests the species may be a remnant from an ancient inland sea that covered the region millions of years ago. Another, more surprising possibility is that the worms were transported by migratory birds, carried across continents in feathers or mud.
Researchers also observed unusual reproductive patterns. In lake samples, male nematodes made up less than one percent of the population, while laboratory cultures showed an equal ratio of males and females. Scientists say this suggests that conditions in the lake strongly influence the species’ biology and reproduction.
The nematodes live in the upper layers of microbial mats, feeding on bacteria that thrive there. Because nematodes are widely used as bioindicators, their presence could provide valuable insights into the health of the Great Salt Lake. Changes in their population or distribution could signal shifts in salinity, water chemistry, or overall ecosystem stability.
With the Great Salt Lake facing increasing pressure from water diversion, climate change, and shrinking water levels, scientists say the discovery of Diplolaimelloides woaabi underscores how much remains unknown about the lake’s biodiversity. The species may prove to be a crucial indicator of environmental change and a reminder that even extreme ecosystems can harbor unseen forms of life.