A likely role for anoxygenic photosynthetic microbes in the formation of ancient stromatolites

Bosak, Tanja; Greene, Sarah E.; Newman, Dianne K.

doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2007.00104.x

Cited by 77 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…6). The data also suggest that anoxygenic photosynthesis occurs in this system, where it may also increase carbonate precipitation (Bosak et al, 2007). Furthermore, the degradation of photoautotrophic material by the heterotrophic community is thought to be significant to the formation of microbialites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Spatially Resolved Genomic, Stable Isotopic, and Lipid Analyses of a Modern Freshwater Microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico

et al. 2012

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Microbialites are biologically mediated carbonate deposits found in diverse environments worldwide. To explore the organisms and processes involved in microbialite formation, this study integrated genomic, lipid, and both organic and inorganic stable isotopic analyses to examine five discrete depth horizons spanning the surface 25 mm of a modern freshwater microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Distinct bacterial communities and geochemical signatures were observed in each microbialite layer. Photoautotrophic organisms accounted for approximately 65% of the sequences in the surface community and produced biomass with distinctive lipid biomarker and isotopic (d 13 C) signatures. This photoautotrophic biomass was efficiently degraded in the deeper layers by heterotrophic organisms, primarily sulfate-reducing proteobacteria. Two spatially distinct zones of carbonate precipitation were observed within the microbialite, with the first zone corresponding to the phototroph-dominated portion of the microbialite and the second zone associated with the presence of sulfatereducing heterotrophs. The coupling of photoautotrophic production, heterotrophic decomposition, and remineralization of organic matter led to the incorporation of a characteristic biogenic signature into the inorganic CaCO 3 matrix. Overall, spatially resolved multidisciplinary analyses of the microbialite enabled correlations to be made between the distribution of specific organisms, precipitation of carbonate, and preservation of unique lipid and isotopic geochemical signatures. These findings are critical for understanding the formation of modern microbialites and have implications for the interpretation of ancient microbialite records.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Spatially Resolved Genomic, Stable Isotopic, and Lipid Analyses of a Modern Freshwater Microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico

et al. 2012

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“…However, the construction of stromatolite-like structures by the anoxygenic phototroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Bosak et al, 2007) challenges the notion that stromatolites uniquely mark cyanobacterial presence in the geologic record and that microfossil metabolism can be inferred from morphology alone.…”

Section: Evidence In the Rock Record For The Evolution Of Oxygenic Phmentioning

confidence: 94%

Iron formations: A global record of Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic environmental history

Konhauser

Planavsky

Hardisty

et al. 2017

Earth-Science Reviews

337

257

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“…In this case, negatively charged groups exposed at the surface of the cell and/or of exopolymeric substances (EPS) act as mineral nucleation sites for carbonate precipitation, so that organic matter is intimately associated with carbonate minerals. This process is dependent upon the microenvironmental chemical conditions (Ca 2+ and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations) that can be controlled by biological activity from different metabolisms such as sulfate-reduction, oxygenic or anoxygenic photosynthesis [63,[79][80][81][82].…”

Section: Biomineralization Of Calcified Epibiotic Bacterial Coloniesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcification and Diagenesis of Bacterial Colonies

et al. 2015

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Evidencing ancient interspecific associations in the fossil record may be challenging, particularly when bacterial organisms have most likely been degraded during diagenesis. Yet, documenting ancient interspecific associations may provide valuable insights into paleoenvironmental conditions and paleocommunities. Here, we report the multiscale characterization of contemporary and fossilized calcifying bacterial colonies found on contemporary shrimps from Mexico (La Paz Bay) and on 160-Ma old fossilized decapods (shrimps) from the Lagerstätte of La Voulte-sur-Rhône (France), respectively. We document the fine scale morphology, the inorganic composition and the organic signatures of both the contemporary and fossilized structures formed by these bacterial colonies using a combination of electron microscopies and synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. In addition to discussing the mechanisms of carbonate precipitation by such bacterial colonies, the present study illustrates the degradation of bacterial remains occurring during diagenesis.

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A likely role for anoxygenic photosynthetic microbes in the formation of ancient stromatolites

Cited by 77 publications

References 46 publications

Spatially Resolved Genomic, Stable Isotopic, and Lipid Analyses of a Modern Freshwater Microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico

Spatially Resolved Genomic, Stable Isotopic, and Lipid Analyses of a Modern Freshwater Microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico

Iron formations: A global record of Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic environmental history

Calcification and Diagenesis of Bacterial Colonies

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