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Source-This post on Stromatolites has been created based on the article “published in “The Print” on 4 June 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, scientists discovered living stromatolites which are ancient geological structures formed by algae on Sheybarah Island, located on the northeastern shelf of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
About Stromatolites
1. About Stromatolites: These are layered structures formed by the activity of microorganisms, primarily cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). They are also known as stromatoliths.
2. Formation Process: These organisms trap and bind sedimentary grains in shallow waters, creating layers upon layers until they form mound-like structures.
3. Appearance: Stromatolites typically display thin, alternating light and dark layers. Their shapes can vary, being flat, rounded (hummocky), or dome-shaped.
4. Historical Significance
i) They are ancient structures, most common during the Precambrian era, over 542 million years ago.
ii) While primarily marine, some ancient stromatolites from more than 2.5 billion years ago are found in environments ranging from intertidal zones to freshwater lakes.
iii) Current Locations: Today, living stromatolites are rare which are found in a few salty lagoons or bays, notably in Western Australia. Shark Bay is a key location for these living marine stromatolites.
5. Importance of Stromatolites
i) Fossil Records: It provide critical evidence of early life on Earth, with fossils dating back over 3.5 billion years.
ii) Oxygen Production: The cyanobacteria in stromatolites are photosynthetic. They produce oxygen as a byproduct of their metabolism.
iii) Role in Understanding the Great Oxygenation Event and evolution of complex life forms: About 2.5 billion years ago, as stromatolites became more prevalent, they significantly increased the oxygen levels in the atmosphere. This transformation was crucial as it changed the atmosphere from being rich in carbon dioxide to one rich in oxygen. The rise in atmospheric oxygen set the stage for the evolution of more complex life forms, including the development of eukaryotic cells, which are cells with a nucleus.
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