Abstract
An intensive 2-year field effort has characterized burial and exposure patterns for stromatolites and thrombolites currently forming in a fringing reef complex at Highborne Cay, Bahamas. Migrating sand waves in the nearshore environment bury and expose the microbialites for periods of days, weeks, or months. Intertidal, nearshore thrombolites and shallow subtidal stromatolites are buried for 30–70% of the year. Duration of exposure intervals is highly variable based on position along the reef tract. These distinctive burial and exposure patterns form a basis for understanding the distribution of microbial communities within the reef complex and the resultant microbialite accretion.
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Acknowledgments
We thank members of the RIBS team, who provided lively discussion and support for all aspects of the monitoring program. The crew of the RV Walton Smith and the management of Highborne Cay Plantations are also gratefully acknowledged for logistical support. Research was supported by National Science Foundation grant EAR-0221796. This is RIBS Contribution Number 56.
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Reid, R.P., Gaspar, A.P.L., Bowlin, E.M., Custals, L., Andres, M.S. (2011). Microbialites and Sediments: A 2-Year Record of Burial and Exposure of Stromatolites and Thrombolites at Highborne Cay Bahamas. In: Tewari, V., Seckbach, J. (eds) STROMATOLITES: Interaction of Microbes with Sediments. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 18. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0397-1_18
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