Cited by 93Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsOrigins and Evolution of LifeGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

A likely role for anoxygenic photosynthetic microbes in the formation of ancient stromatolites

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BOSAK, T., GREENE, S. E., NEWMAN, D. K.·2007·Geobiology

Abstract

Although cyanobacteria are the dominant primary producers in modern stromatolites and other microbialites, the oldest stromatolites pre-date geochemical evidence for oxygenic photosynthesis and cyanobacteria in the rock record. As a step towards the development of laboratory models of stromatolite growth, we tested the potential of a metabolically ancient anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium to build stromatolites. This organism, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, stimulates the precipitation of calcite in solutions already highly saturated with respect to calcium carbonate, and greatly facilitates the incorporation of carbonate grains into proto-lamina (i.e. crusts). The appreciable stimulation of the growth of proto-lamina by a nonfilamentous anoxygenic microbe suggests that similar microbes may have played a greater role in the formation of Archean stromatolites than previously assumed.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2007.00104.x

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  • The construction of stromatolite-like structures by the anoxygenic phototroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris challenges the notion that stromatolites uniquely mark cyanobacterial presence in the geologic record and that microfossil metabolism can be inferred from morphology alone.

    “However, the construction of stromatolite-like structures by the anoxygenic phototroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Bosak et al., 2007) challenges the notion that stromatolites uniquely mark cyanobacterial presence in the geologic record and that microfossil metabolism can be inferred from morphology alone.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Bosak T, Newman DK. Microbial nucleation of calcium carbonate in the Precambrian. Geology 2003;31:577-580.
  2. Grotzinger JP. Gcochemical model for Protcrozoic stromatolite decline. American Journal of Science 1990;290A:80-103.
  3. Hoffman HJGK, Hickman AH, Thorpe RI. Origin of 3.45 Ga coniform stromatolites in Warrawoona Group, Western Australia. Geological Society of America Bulletin 1999;111:1256-1262.
  4. Walter MR, Buick R, Dunlop JSR. Stromatolites 3400-3500 Myr old from the North-Pole Area, Western- Australia. Nature 1980;284:443-445.

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Authors
BOSAK, T., GREENE, S. E., & NEWMAN, D. K.
Affiliations
California Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
NEWMAN, D. K.
Venue
Geobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-04-06
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
119-126
ISSN
  • 1472-4669 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-4677
OpenAlex
W2137859535
Cited by
93
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Geobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Agouron Institute
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Keywords
stromatolites, anoxygenic photosynthesis, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, calcite precipitation, microbial carbonate precipitation, cyanobacteria, microbialite formation

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