Non-lithifying microbial ecosystem dissolves peritidal lime sand.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34031392.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23006-1 and PMC identifier 8144198.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Microbialites accrete where environmental conditions and microbial metabolisms promote lithification, commonly through carbonate cementation. On Little Ambergris Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, microbial mats occur widely in peritidal environments above ooid sand but do not become lithified or preserved. Sediment cores and porewater geochemistry indicated that aerobic respiration and sulfide oxidation inhibit lithification and dissolve calcium carbonate sand despite widespread aragonite precipitation from platform surface waters. Here, we report that in tidally pumped environments, microbial metabolisms can negate the effects of taphonomically-favorable seawater chemistry on carbonate mineral saturation and microbialite development.
Medical subject headings
- Calcium Compounds
- Ecosystem
- Oxides
- Sand