Bacterial Insights into the Formation of Opaline Stromatolites from the Chimalacatepec Lava Tube System, Mexico

Cave lithifying systems are excellent models to study biomineralization in the dark. The Chimalacatepec Lava Tube System in Mexico harbors diverse biospeleothems where previous studies suggest that the formation of opaline terrestrial stromatolites is related to microorganisms in contiguous mats. Ho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geomicrobiology journal 2019-09, Vol.36 (8), p.694-704
Main Authors: Luis-Vargas, Maira N., López-Martínez, Rafael A., Vilchis-Nestor, Alfredo R., Daza, Raquel, Alcántara-Hernández, Rocio J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autotrophic microorganisms
Bacteria
Biospeleothems
Calcite
Carbonates
cave bacteria
Chemical precipitation
Composition
Extracellular
Heterotrophic microorganisms
Laminates
lava tube
Mats
microbial mat
Microbial mats
Microorganisms
Mineralization
Opal
Organic matter
rRNA 16S
Stromatolites
Terrestrial environments
Tubes
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Summary:Cave lithifying systems are excellent models to study biomineralization in the dark. The Chimalacatepec Lava Tube System in Mexico harbors diverse biospeleothems where previous studies suggest that the formation of opaline terrestrial stromatolites is related to microorganisms in contiguous mats. However, there is no information regarding their characterization and their role in mineral formation. In this study, we characterized the bacterial and archaeal composition of microbial mats and stromatolites and suggested the main processes involved in the genesis of opaline stromatolites. Our results showed that the microbial mats and stromatolites have a similar 16S rRNA gene composition, but stromatolites contain more Actinobacteria, which have been previously found in other lava tubes together with other key bacteria. Microorganisms found here belonged to groups with the potential to fix carbon and degrade organic matter. We propose that the synergic interaction of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms that thrive in the dark might be inducing carbonate precipitation within the Ca-enriched extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), generating opal-A and calcite laminae. The similar 16S rRNA gene fingerprint and the presence of potential pathways that induce carbonate precipitation in opaline stromatolites and microbial mats suggest that microbial mats lithify and contribute to the stromatolite biotic genesis.
ISSN:0149-0451
1521-0529
DOI:10.1080/01490451.2019.1607952