CONVERGENT PHILOSOPHIES: USING GEOLOGY AND BIOLOGY TO DESCRIBE MICROBIALITE PALEOENVRIONMENTS

Historically, Geology has been on the forefront of interdisciplinary methodologies. Biology for example has been a subject that has informed geology with respect to paleontology and the study of ancient life. One such focus is Microbialites, which are organosedimentary structures formed by microbes, like cyanobacteria, that mediate carbonate precipitation and the trapping of detrital sediments. These are key as the structure, composition, and location help unravel the characteristics of their environment.

Microbialites are represented by preserved fossils, but also modern active communal forms. The two fields of Geology and Biology have unique ways to analyze and detail the traits of these microbialites, but for the past half century, the two fields have converged to utilize a holistic toolset to provide new perspectives. Geologists typically focus on sedimentary traits and fossil content that comprise microbialite texture, surrounding strata, and isotopic markers. Biologists relate the texture and structure of the fabrics to modern biofilms, and much more recently implement metagenomics using DNA and RNA sequencing to determine the diversity and function of modern microbialite constituents.

Continued integration of these two disciplines and their toolsets in the study of microbialites can lead to changes in methods and philosophical approaches. Geologists hold the key to the past, where biologists hold the key to the present; but the combination of the two may help realize common connections between biological and physical processes across time and space.