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Thermogenic travertine deposits in Thermopylae hot springs (Greece) in association with cyanobacterial microflora

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Abstract

The present paper deals with the investigation of abiotic and biotic influence on thermogenic travertine formation in Thermopylae hot springs, one of the largest active thermogenic travertine systems in Greece. Geological, mineralogical and microbiological data from three different types of travertines (cascades, terraces and fluvial crusts) revealed different cyanobacterial communities. Microscopic analysis of fresh and cultured material has shown that epilithic and endolithic cyanobacteria are almost the exclusive components of travertines’ photosynthetic microflora. Thirty-one (31) taxa of cyanobacteria are presented here, among them the frequently found, in such environments, Phormidium incrustatum and Aphanocapsa thermalis, as well as the taxonomically interesting diazotrophic morphotype identified as Chlorogloeopsis sp. Sampling sites I and II have similar formation conditions characterized by laminated travertines with low porosity and shrub lithotypes, with the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya ercegovicii occupying an endolithic zone, while the upper part is occupied by colonial chroococcalean species. On the contrary, sampling site III is characterized by laminated travertine with fenestrial type porosity and absence of shrub lithotypes resulting in a completely different community of cyanobacteria.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Pantazidou Adriani of University of Athens, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology and Systematics, who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research concerning cyanobacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Earth and Environmental Studies, University of Geneva, Rue des Maraichers 13, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    Christos Kanellopoulos

  2. Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Ilisia, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Vasiliki Lamprinou

  3. Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, Department of Economic Geology and Geochemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Ilisia, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Panagiotis Mitropoulos

  4. Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Ilisia, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Panagiotis Voudouris

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  1. Christos Kanellopoulos
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  2. Vasiliki Lamprinou
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  4. Panagiotis Voudouris
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Correspondence to Christos Kanellopoulos.

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Kanellopoulos, C., Lamprinou, V., Mitropoulos, P. et al. Thermogenic travertine deposits in Thermopylae hot springs (Greece) in association with cyanobacterial microflora. Carbonates Evaporites 31, 239–248 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-015-0255-4

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