Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record

Details Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record

Nov 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009asbio...9..843b&link_type=abstract

Astrobiology, Volume 9, Issue 9, pp. 843-859.

Biology

1

Scientific paper

Putative microbialites are commonly regarded to have formed in association with photosynthetic microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria. However, many modern microbial mat ecosystems are dominated by chemotrophic bacteria and archaea. Like phototrophs, filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria form large mats at the sediment/water interface that can act to stabilize sediments, and their metabolic activities may mediate the formation of marine phosphorites. Similarly, bacteria and archaea associated with the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) catalyze the precipitation of seafloor authigenic carbonates. When preserved, lipid biomarkers, isotopic signatures, body fossils, and lithological indicators of the local depositional environment may be used to identify chemotrophic mats in the rock record. The recognition of chemotrophic communities in the rock record has the potential to transform our understanding of ancient microbial ecologies, evolution, and geochemical conditions. Chemotrophic microbes on Earth occupy naturally occurring interfaces between oxidized and reduced chemical species and thus may provide a new set of search criteria to target life-detection efforts on other planets.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chemotrophic Microbial Mats and Their Potential for Preservation in the Rock Record will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1259652