Insights into the Geomicrobiology of Biovermiculations from Rock Billet Incubation Experiments.

ABSTRACT: Biovermiculations are uniquely patterned organic rich sediment formations found on the walls of caves and other subterranean environments. These distinctive worm-like features are the combined result of physical and biological processes. The diverse microbial communities that inhabit biovermiculations may corrode the host rock, form secondary minerals, and produce biofilms that stabilize the sediment matrix, thus altering cave surfaces and contributing to the formation of these wall deposits. In this study, we incubated basalt, limestone, and monzonite rock billets in biovermiculation mixed natural community enrichments for 468-604 days, and used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess surface textures and biofilms that developed over the course of the experiment. We observed alterati

SUBMITTER: Kelly H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7830032 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature