Living Stromatolites

Connected Sites: 5

"Stromatolites consist of multiple rock layers (or "stone blankets," as the Greek name implies) that formed in shallow, intertidal and sub-tidal environments. Most, if not all, of these rock formations are the remnants of ancient microbial mats that grew on top of each other in successive generations. Stromatolite-building goes on today, but very rarely. In fact, stromatolites practically dropped out of the geologic record after the Cambrian explosion (about 530 million years ago), when animals appeared that eat the mat-forming bacteria. "They've gone to extreme environments where the animals that eat them can't live," Due to this predation, microbial mats have retreated to saline lagoons and hot geothermal regions." (see Yellowstone link)

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Connected Sites

Shark Bay
Shark Bay
Australia
Inscribed: 1991
3.58
54
2
One Of Only Two Places In The World (The Other Being The Bahamas) With Living Marine Stromatolites
See Www.Sharkbay.Org
Gunung Mulu
Gunung Mulu
Malaysia
Inscribed: 2000
4.11
78
6
"Stromatolites ...Are Also Common At All The Cave Entrances" (Nom File 6.3.4)
See Www.Karstworlds.Com
Yellowstone
Yellowstone
United States of America
Inscribed: 1978
4.48
294
12
Scientists "Are Studying Microbial Mats In The Local Hot Springs. These Modern Day Microbes Are Building Stromatolites Similar To Those Of Their Ancient Brethren, And So They May Provide Clues To Who The Ancient Stromatolite-Builders Were
See Www.Livescience.Com
Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
United Kingdom
Inscribed: 1986
3.63
312
11
Tasmanian Wilderness
Inscribed: 1982
3.93
121
7
"They Were Found In Freshwater Spring Mounds In The Karstic Wetlands Of A Wilderness Area In Tasmania, Australia." (2017)
See Www.Sciencealert.Com