Phototrophs in high iron microbial mats: microstructure of mats in iron-depositing hot springs

Abstract Chocolate Pots Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park are high in ferrous iron, silica and bicarbonate. The springs are contributing to the active development of an iron formation. The microstructure of photosynthetic microbial mats in these springs was studied with conventional optical m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology ecology 2000-06, Vol.32 (3), p.181-196
Main Authors: Pierson, Beverly K., Parenteau, Mary N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Bicarbonates
Biological and medical sciences
Chloroflexus
Chocolate
Confocal microscopy
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacterium
Cyanophyta
Ecology
Encrustation
Filaments
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gliding
Hot spring mat
Hot springs
Iron
Light microscopy
Low temperature
Mastigocladus
Mats
Microbial ecology
Microbial mats
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Microscopes
Microscopy
Microstructure
Mineral deposits
Minerals
National parks
Optical microscopy
Oscillatoria
Photosynthesis
Phototroph
Precambrian
Prokaryotes
Pseudanabaena
Scanning microscopy
Silica
Silicon dioxide
Surface layers
Synechococcus
Transmission electron microscopy
Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water)
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Summary:Abstract Chocolate Pots Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park are high in ferrous iron, silica and bicarbonate. The springs are contributing to the active development of an iron formation. The microstructure of photosynthetic microbial mats in these springs was studied with conventional optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The dominant mats at the highest temperatures (48–54°C) were composed of Synechococcus and Chloroflexus or Pseudanabaena and Mastigocladus. At lower temperatures (36–45°C), a narrow Oscillatoria dominated olive green cyanobacterial mats covering most of the iron deposit. Vertically oriented cyanobacterial filaments were abundant in the top 0.5 mm of the mats. Mineral deposits accumulated beneath this surface layer. The filamentous microstructure and gliding motility may contribute to binding the iron minerals. These activities and heavy mineral encrustation of cyanobacteria may contribute to the growth of the iron deposit. Chocolate Pots Hot Springs provide a model for studying the potential role of photosynthetic prokaryotes in the origin of Precambrian iron formations.
ISSN:0168-6496
1574-6941
DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2000.tb00711.x