New multi-scale perspectives on the stromatolites of Shark Bay, Western Australia

A recent field-intensive program in Shark Bay, Western Australia provides new multi-scale perspectives on the world’s most extensive modern stromatolite system. Mapping revealed a unique geographic distribution of morphologically distinct stromatolite structures, many of them previously undocumented...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2016-02, Vol.6 (1), p.20557-20557, Article 20557
Main Authors: Suosaari, E. P., Reid, R. P., Playford, P. E., Foster, J. S., Stolz, J. F., Casaburi, G., Hagan, P. D., Chirayath, V., Macintyre, I. G., Planavsky, N. J., Eberli, G. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
45
45/77
631/326/171
704/172
Fabrics
Geographical distribution
Growth models
Humanities and Social Sciences
Lamination
Mapping
Microbial mats
Morphogenesis
multidisciplinary
Precambrian
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sharks
Stromatolites
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Summary:A recent field-intensive program in Shark Bay, Western Australia provides new multi-scale perspectives on the world’s most extensive modern stromatolite system. Mapping revealed a unique geographic distribution of morphologically distinct stromatolite structures, many of them previously undocumented. These distinctive structures combined with characteristic shelf physiography define eight ‘Stromatolite Provinces’. Morphological and molecular studies of microbial mat composition resulted in a revised growth model where coccoid cyanobacteria predominate in mat communities forming lithified discrete stromatolite buildups. This contradicts traditional views that stromatolites with the best lamination in Hamelin Pool are formed by filamentous cyanobacterial mats. Finally, analysis of internal fabrics of stromatolites revealed pervasive precipitation of microcrystalline carbonate (i.e. micrite) in microbial mats forming framework and cement that may be analogous to the micritic microstructures typical of Precambrian stromatolites. These discoveries represent fundamental advances in our knowledge of the Shark Bay microbial system, laying a foundation for detailed studies of stromatolite morphogenesis that will advance our understanding of benthic ecosystems on the early Earth.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep20557