TY - JOUR
T1 - Statistical physics and stromatolite growth
T2 - New perspectives on an ancient dilemma
AU - Batchelor, M. T.
AU - Burne, R. V.
AU - Henry, B. I.
AU - Slatyer, T.
PY - 2005/5/1
Y1 - 2005/5/1
N2 - This paper outlines our recent attempts to model the growth and form of microbialites from the perspective of the statistical physics of evolving surfaces. Microbialites arise from the environmental interactions of microbial communities (microbial mats). The mats evolve over time to form internally laminated organosedimentary structures (stromatolites). Modern day stromatolites exist in only a few locations, whereas ancient stromatolitic microbialites were the only form of life for much of the Earth's history. They existed in a wide variety of growth forms, ranging from almost perfect cones to branched columnar structures. The coniform structures are central to the heated debate on the oldest evidence of life. We proposed a biotic model which considers the relationship between upward growth of a phototropic or phototactic biofilm and mineral accretion normal to the surface. These processes are sufficient to account for the growth and form of many ancient stromatolities. These include domical stromatolites and coniform structures with thickened apical zones typical of Conophyton. More angular coniform structures, similar to the stromatolites claimed as the oldest macroscopic evidence of life, form when the photic effects dominate over mineral accretion.
AB - This paper outlines our recent attempts to model the growth and form of microbialites from the perspective of the statistical physics of evolving surfaces. Microbialites arise from the environmental interactions of microbial communities (microbial mats). The mats evolve over time to form internally laminated organosedimentary structures (stromatolites). Modern day stromatolites exist in only a few locations, whereas ancient stromatolitic microbialites were the only form of life for much of the Earth's history. They existed in a wide variety of growth forms, ranging from almost perfect cones to branched columnar structures. The coniform structures are central to the heated debate on the oldest evidence of life. We proposed a biotic model which considers the relationship between upward growth of a phototropic or phototactic biofilm and mineral accretion normal to the surface. These processes are sufficient to account for the growth and form of many ancient stromatolities. These include domical stromatolites and coniform structures with thickened apical zones typical of Conophyton. More angular coniform structures, similar to the stromatolites claimed as the oldest macroscopic evidence of life, form when the photic effects dominate over mineral accretion.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=14644431852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.physa.2005.01.014
DO - 10.1016/j.physa.2005.01.014
M3 - Article
SN - 0378-4371
VL - 350
SP - 6
EP - 11
JO - Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
JF - Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
IS - 1
ER -