Presentation topics
Microbial Mats and Microbialites in the Present and Past - Oral and Poster Presentations
Microbialites are organosedimentary deposits formed through the mineralization of benthic microbial mats and/or trapping and binding of sedimentary particles. The understanding of preservation modalities of modern microbial mats allows for a better interpretation of the fossil record. The transdisciplinary sessions combine research on modern and fossil microbialites with a broad focus such as sedimentology, (bio)geochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, geomicrobiology, and mineralogy.
The recent developments in -omics, including high-throughput gene sequencing technology and similar developments in geochemical analyses (Synchrotron-based XRF, Nano-SIMS) have led to a better understanding of the impact of microbial processes in the geological record. This approach is particularly useful in the interpretation of the depositionnal record.
The growth of microbialites results from a complex process that is controlled by main factors such as: the metabolic activity of the entire community of microorganisms; the geochemical environmental conditions; and the properties of organic matrix. From molecules and DNA to fabrics, structures, diagenesis and fossil microbialites, the contributions could include but are not restricted to:
- Microbe – Mineral interactions: How it began, how it is evolving
- Linking extant and extinct microbialites
- Modern Microbialites – Emerging results & novel approaches
- Microbialites and microbially-induced sedimentary structures (MISS): from Slimy Mats to Fossil buildups
- Biogeochemical cycles as recorded by microbial sediments/microbialites
- Early Diagenesis – What happens next?
- Microbialites though Time and Space – What is left and how do we know?
- Microbialites as geological resources and reservoirs
- In the Footsteps of Baas Becking : “Everything is Everywhere, but the environment select” and Evolution of Earth’s surface environment