Comparative Metagenomics Provides Insight Into the Ecosystem Functioning of the Shark Bay Stromatolites, Western Australia

Comparative metagenomic analysis of stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia, reveals two distinct processes of stromatolite formation dependent on water depth. Intertidal pustular mats exhibit enriched photosynthesis pathways, while subtidal colloform and smooth mats show increased heterotrophic metabolisms linked to carbonate mineralization, such as sulfate reduction. These findings highlight the adaptive strategies and synergistic microbial interactions that drive stromatolite accretion, providing insights into the ecosystem functioning of these ancient organosedimentary structures.

Babilonia, J., Conesa, A., Casaburi, G., Pereira, C., Louyakis, A. S., Reid, R. P., & Foster, J. S. (2018). Comparative Metagenomics Provides Insight Into the Ecosystem Functioning of the Shark Bay Stromatolites, Western Australia. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01359