Presenter: Kim Weaver
Authors: Emily Burningham, Dyllon Arenivar
Faculty Advisor: Kim Weaver
Institution: Southern Utah University
Molybdenum is an important trace metal required by almost every organism. Molybdenum-dependent enzymes are central to nitrogen fixation and metabolism. Earlier soil samples analyzed were analyzed for molybdenum concentrations in soil in an area of the Great Basin Desert northwest of Milford, UT. Maps of the concentration of molybdenum show that the local geology of the area is secondary to watershed drainage in controlling molybdenum distribution over most of the area. However, there are also topographic highs and lows which point to the influence of additional factors. In our study site, the molybdenum concentration ranges from 0.02 mg kg-1 to 50 mg kg-1, which is 15 to 50-fold higher than the average lithosphere value in the literature. We also found a clear pattern of higher molybdenum concentration closer to sagebrush roots, and our initial data suggests that cryptobiotic crust also has a higher molybdenum concentration than the surrounding soil. In our current study we have conducted additional sampling to identify the extent to which the soil is contaminated both horizontally and vertically. The results of this study will be shared in our presentation. Understanding concentration behavior of molybdenum near geologic sources and understanding its influence on the local fauna and nitrogen cycle, which could help with soil preparation for crops and evaluation of local rangeland.