This Daring Fly Swims in a Shimmering Bubble Shield | Deep Look
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2023
- Covered in a shiny bubble, the alkali fly scuba dives into the harsh waters of California's Mono Lake. Thanks to an abundance of hair and water-repellent wax, this remarkable insect remains dry while embarking on a quest for tasty algae and a place to lay its eggs.
Learn more about Mono Lake's world-famous tufa towers at PBS TERRA's Untold Earth: • Trillions of Animals R...
DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED in San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
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California’s Mono Lake is an incredibly harsh environment. It is three times saltier than the ocean and strongly alkaline. This landscape has striking limestone towers called tufas, creating an otherworldly setting.
But in these extreme conditions, only a handful of species can survive: algae, nematodes, brine shrimp and the alkali fly. These flies embark on an impossible adventure: diving to eat and lay eggs while staying completely dry.
The alkali fly has physical adaptations that allow them to thrive in these harsh waters. Their body is covered in a waxy substance to counter the high concentration of sodium carbonate in Mono Lake. They also have an impressive amount of hair, allowing them to form a protective air bubble.
Despite its size, the alkali fly plays a vital role in Mono Lake's ecosystem and relies on a delicate balance to survive.
--- Can you swim in Mono Lake?
Yes. The increased level of salt makes people more buoyant, so, swimming in the lake is a very interesting experience.
--- Why is Mono Lake drying up?
Mono Lake is drying up due to reduced rainfall and water runoff from the Sierra Nevada. In 1941, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power began diverting water from Mono Lake’s streams to meet the growing water demands.
--- How are tufas formed?
Tufas form underwater due to the interaction of calcium freshwater springs and the carbonate-rich lake water. When these two elements combine, a chemical reaction takes place, resulting in the formation of tufas. Tufa towers take decades or even centuries to grow.
--- Are there fish in Mono Lake?
No, there are no fish in Mono Lake.
--- What makes an alkaline lake?
A strongly alkaline environment means it has a pH value between 9 and 12. These alkaline lakes are characterized by high concentrations of carbonates.
--- Are there other alkaline lakes?
Yes. Some examples include Albert Lake and Pyramid Lake in the U.S., Lake Natron in Tanzania, and Lake Turkana in Kenya and Ethiopia.
---Who are the Native American tribes living in the Mono Lake Basin?
Humans have called the Mono Basin home for thousands of years. The Kutzadika’a Paiute are the land’s native people. The Kutzadika’a People still live by Mono Lake and have maintained traditional practices, including harvesting kutsavi (the pupae of the alkali fly used as food).
---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
www.kqed.org/science/1983796/...
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#alkalifly #monolake #deeplook 
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Hi everybody! My name is Rosa Tuirán and I'm the producer of this Deep Look episode. If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them! Thanks for watching! -RT
Has the recent rainfall in California helped the lakes waterlevels and the flies population?
Hi! @@MrNaesean With the recent rainfall in California, Mono Lake rose about four feet, but it is still not enough. As for the flies population, there is not enough information to know if there are more flies due to the increase in the water levels. Hope this helps!
Hi Rosa! I've noticed that lots of Deep Look episodes cover California native species. Why so much focus here in this state?
...this isn't a complaint. I know California is high in endemic species, and I like learning new things about my state's unique wildlife. I'm just curious. Love this episode!
at current rates, how long does Mono Lake have left? and how big of an impact would the loss of these flies have?
did any of the flies bite you?
When survival is needed, some creatures go above and beyond to live. That is so fascinating!
Yeah like creating nuclear weapons.
Yeah my grandma started to walk just to get that burrito
Creatures adapted to their ecosystem
Creatures adapted to their ecosystem
@@Adam-326Haha
I lived next to Mono Lake for several years. Beautiful area. If you are a resident of LA County some of your water is diverted from Mono basin. After LA water and power began diverting water the lake dropped 45 feet and lost half of it's volume. If you're a California voter make sure you vote for candidates that pledge to protect and conserve water and find out how you can become more active in conservation.
I would if I lived there. I live in New Jersey honestly probably forever will.
Cool😊
You didn’t catch mono did you?
Voting is for the gentiles now ask yourself why
Asking for Californians to vote for policies that aren't self-destructive. That's asking a lot.
Just goes to show that if there is a niche, life will fill it somehow. Fascinating flies!
We agree!
Deep Look never fails to impress us with nature. And to think that we have undiscovered species...must motivate the researchers. Thanks for another great video❤
So nice of you!
@@KQEDDeepLookit's the truth! You guys are awesome! ❤😂
Even though I don't like flies, it's impressive that they can endure in such harsh conditions. It is pretty fascinating; I had no idea they could submerge themselves to lay eggs, etc. As correctly stated, they have a role in the ecosystem whether they are food for other animals, aiding in decomposition, etc.
Great video Deep Look😁😄
Thank you - alkali lakes are such wondrous ecosystems.
You might look into Sweat Bee or Hover Flies. Completely harmless pollenators that like to steal your sweat and nothing else.
**Looks at soup**
**Sees no fly on soup**
**Sips without hesitation**
**Feels something in mouth but you saw no fly**
**so Gulps it down**
Laura I never tire of hearing your beautiful narrative voice ❤️❤️❤️
I'm so glad!
Any creature with a proboscis gets a like from me. Awesome video!
Much appreciated!
Wish these videos were just a bit longer. The importance of the preservation of wildlife is top.
Overall, the quality still keeps being amazing, the footage, the notes, the narration; All is very very good and of high quality. Thanks for all your work!
That's pretty amazing!
Large extremophiles are pretty rare!
I love learning about new organisms! (And a bonus habit!?!)
You never disappoint.
🙏
So true!
I love when you explain how things work down there. Now we need to find out who can submerge for longer: this fly or underwater spider.
Incredible!
Is it weird that I think it's cute? Like even as a larvae??
Also tufas are so cool, thank you for teaching me about them.
I wish more flies lived like this
They're soo cute, it's my favourite living organism.
I was under the impression that Mono lake is one of the most protected lakes in the country. LA no longer drains the lake for drinking water. PBS Terra just released a very good video about this amazing lake. The lake is no longer hemorrhaging water, but will take a very long time to recover from LOS ANGELES GREED if ever.
Petition to save the flies, brine shrimps, and worms so that they may feed other animals also prevent the extinction of 3 unique animals
Where do we sign?
@@KQEDDeepLook Skreeee!!! I got a Reply from the best Brain food Channel!!! ❤❤❤
Quality 4K videos of nature. Please never die.
Awesome - just in time to be another great vid in explanations about water properties for my classes!
Glad it was helpful!
I love this channel and Laura!!!❤
I love these bugs! Thanks for making this :)
Glad you like them!
Thanks you earned a like And sub!
👏👏👏 Another awesome video! Really appreciated the highlight on why we should care about the loss of a fly and its habitat.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My goodness all the work you put into this is just unmeasurable. Thank you so so much for sharing with us how wonderful our planet and its inhabitants are ❤️
Wow, thank you!
Very interesting stuff!
Thank you very much for posting it.
Weirdly cute fly. I've never seen a fly larva that looks like a little caterpillar. Wish more of them looked like that.
A natural part of its ecosystem. An incredible creature!
this is so so incredible and beautifully shot!!! thank you!!!
Gorgeous images and fascinating facts of this fly. Thanks for your work.
The bubbles cover looks so amazing
your documents so professional keep going I always watch your videos
It's so interesting how different properties of water prevail at different scales.
Some very cool flies! Thanks for the awesome video.
You bet.
This is absolutely incredible how does this evolve!!!! Incredible organism PLEASE protect the Mono Lake what a beautifully unique place on this planet....
You guys are amazing ,I love your all videos.
Thank you so much 😀
nature never fails to amaze me..
I love you guys and what you do! Keep it up!
Thank you! Will do!
That is so amazing nature creatures. Thank for this study.
This is the best Deep Look video ever!!!!
That’s high praise!
amazing! and beautiful video!
Super dope! Awesome work guys, wonder if these flies are found in other places around the world... Keep up the good work!
Hope to see some more videos on different spiders and other arachnids in future...
Hi! There are other alkali flies, also called brine flies but there are not as hairy as our friends from Mono Lake!
That was very interesting and I love the macro images, well done! =)
Hello. your comment is fire 🔥 I want to be your friend, I'm a hustler, I'll be real with you, I want to learn honest things and I need a soul that can feel what I feel... Do you feel what I feel? We can do it? ? I have feelings for you 🥲❤ Oops, sorry./ My name is Chang but you can call me David. Are you..?
How cool is that fly, nature is awesome.
great episode, big fan of alkali flies
I love this channel!
I’m always in love with creatures “insects” that can fly & swim!
The way the fly just traps a bubble on it's body to breath just reminds me of the bubble shield from Sonic 3.
Great video!!
This was a great episode
Thanks! 🌞
Wow! You’re welcome 😊
imagine having your own little bubble spacesuit
This is so incredible. Life will find a way
Very interesting story. Best wishes in creation of a new surprising stories! Thanks from entomologists in Ukraine.
Glad you enjoyed it! The world needs more entomologists, keep up the amazing work!
This is so fascinating 😮
Reminds me of Flamingos and how incredible they are to raise their young in the world's most inhospitable waters.
This is an amazing biotope!
I learn so much from this channel 😊
Happy to hear that!
Fascinating and knowledge rich
Deep look is the best💖
Wow now I know what to answer when someone asks what's wetter than water.
Deep respect to deep look
We couldn't do it without you!
So weird. PBS Tera just posted within same hour about this lake
Yep! We timed our episodes together! Here is the link for all of you who may be interested: ruclips.net/video/X6wUVIbXoS4/видео.html
I love this cool little dude
This is so interesting and fascinating. I never knew a waterproof fly exists, up until now. Thank you so much for this knowledgeable detailed video. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very Cool. Thanks for sharing👍😁
Thanks for watching Miranda Christina!
These are the same flies and environment used in filming the Pectinodon segment in Prehistoric Planet 2!
It's so cool to learn about the real life flies and their unique diving adaptations. Another great look into a group of small, often overlooked animals! Keep up these amazing videos.
We will!
Watching different species slip closer and closer to extinction due to our actions is sad to see. I know its likely inevitable now and can't be stopped but it doesn't make it any less upsetting to watch.
Very nice videos and cinematography, 👏
Thanks a lot 😊
**Looks at soup**
**Sees no fly on soup**
**Sips without hesitation**
**Feels something in mouth but you saw no fly**
**so Gulps it down**
Super duper interesting ❤ thank you so much from England
Our pleasure!
Wow! I’ve never heard of such a tactic! Thank you for allowing me to learn something incredible and new (which is what I live for)🙏🏼👍🏼💖 Awesome Amazing Nature💖
This Fly got that bubble shield from Sonic
i'm just waiting for this 🤙
That’s wild good stuff
Please do a video on clamshrimp they are related to triops
That's a fascinating fly 👍 Important to shine light on the way humans are impacting the nature on this planet🪰🐦🌍🌎🌏
I’ve learn so many extraordinary things about the animal kingdom due to this channel I’m very fortunate I subscribed
Did not expect to get an answer to 'Is water wet?' but that's the magic of Deep Look!
How am I now so invested in the well being of flies?!
Amazing!
neat trick!
great video!
Yepyep! Thanks for the visit!
these guys are interesting. glued to the screen is an understatement
Thanks!
So interesting.
Awesome
This so cool!
Thanks, Kim! We've hoped to do an episode on these flies for years, and the stars finally aligned.
@@KQEDDeepLook yeah you're welcome!
Bubble wrap, slot in!!
Interesting 😊
yeah the water in my moms house used to be qell water with a lot of minerals in it and it was slick like you described. extra wet water lol. she has city water now
this fly literally enters different reality when dives
Thanks
You are most welcome!
professional grade like BBC nature, easy to understand terms, short, imagery for most of the concepts presented, no talking heads! all nature, the way a nature film should be ..
So you’re telling me that sonics bubble shield is scientifically accurate!?
Outstanding
Can they survive in freshwater too or have they become so specialised that they'd die without the extreme high ph?
cleanest fly tbh
What a depressive end. They are cute in their bubble.
The power of evolution in living creatures is truly astonishing
I would never guess flies could be so cool and not gross
Wow. 😵💫 You dumbfounded me
Wow that was so cool, specially how it goes in and gets this little armor bubble 🫧
They're so nifty! It's like they get in a mini-submarine! Hopefully we can save the lake for future generations.