Author(s): Chris Caruso, Cauy Williams
Mentor(s): Kim Weaver
Institution SUU
Coal Creek, the main surface water source that flows into the Cedar City valley is very limited in terms of both biomass and biodiversity despite minimal anthropogenic influences. Most of the water comes from Ashdown Creek which fed from multiple tributaries which drain the pristine Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area and Cedar Breaks. No fish are found, and invertebrate concentrations are minimal. Only the Arch Creek, and Crow Creek tributaries routinely have algae formation on the rocks within the stream beds. Stream flow conditions not only vary dramatically during the year but also significantly vary from year to year. Stream flow affects physical, chemical, and microbial conditions of Coal Creek. In fact, the large amount of sediment found in Coal Creek during flood events has been hypothesized as an explanation of the limited biodiversity in the Creek. Coal Creek’s microbiological communities and their ecological functions are not well understood and the difference biomass of the tributaries between the different tributaries cannot be explained either. Understanding the microbiome of Coal Creek is essential towards understanding the Coal Creek ecosystem and its limited biodiversity. We have conducted DNA analysis of bacteria collected on biofilm monitoring stations in the different tributaries within the Coal Creek Drainage Basin as well as a characterized the major ions and trace metal concentrations of each tributary. Our analysis results will be presented in conjunction to address the limited biodiversity in Coal Creek.