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6 - Modern Mat-Building Microbial Communities: a Key to the Interpretation of Proterozoic Stromatolitic Communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2011

Beverly K. Pierson
Affiliation:
University of Puget Sound
John Bauld
Affiliation:
Bureau of Mineral Resources
Richard W. Castenholz
Affiliation:
University of Oregon
Elisa D'Amelio
Affiliation:
Ames Research Center
David J. Des Marais
Affiliation:
Ames Research Center
Jack D. Farmer
Affiliation:
University of California
John P. Grotzinger
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bo Barker Jørgensen
Affiliation:
University of Aarhus
Douglas C. Nelson
Affiliation:
University of California
Anna C. Palmisano
Affiliation:
Ivorydale Technical Center
J. William Schopf
Affiliation:
University of California
Roger E. Summons
Affiliation:
Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Australia
Malcolm R. Walter
Affiliation:
M. R. Walter Pty. Ltd
David M. Ward
Affiliation:
Montana State University
J. William Schopf
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
Cornelis Klein
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico
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Summary

Introduction

Modern microbial mats are structurally coherent macroscopic accumulations of microorganisms. Mats are widely distributed on earth. They are found in a surprisingly large number of diverse environments from the equatorial zones to both polar regions. They vary in size from extensive terrestrial and hypersaline mats that cover areas several square kilometers in extent to minute mats only a few square centimeters in area found in small thermal springs. They vary in thickness from massive accumulations measured in meters, such as those in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea region, to thin films less than a few millimeters in thickness. In addition to being highly varied in size, modern microbial mats are also very diverse in morphology, community structure, and physiological characteristics. What do such mats have in common? Under what conditions do they form? What is the basis of their diversity? What insight do they provide, if any, to the interpretation of the widespread stromatolites of the Proterozoic?

A Terminology

Microbial mats are accretionary cohesive microbial communities which are often laminated and found growing at the sediment-water (occasionally sediment-air) interface. Most mats stabilize unconsolidated sediment. The mats are comprised of the various microorganisms that accumulate along with their metabolic products. The most conspicuous of these products is usually a copious amount of extracellular polysaccharide which helps hold the cells together to form a cohesive structure.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Proterozoic Biosphere
A Multidisciplinary Study
, pp. 245 - 342
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1992

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