Hydrochemistry and microbialites of the alkaline crater lake Alchichica, Mexico

Kaźmierczak, J.; Kempe, S.; Kremer, Barbara; López‐García, Purificación; Moreira, David; Tavera, Rosaluz

doi:10.1007/s10347-010-0255-8

Cited by 96 publications

(136 citation statements)

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“…We used a variety of microbialite fragments fixed in formaldehyde, stained with DAPI and calcein and LR-white-embedded, which were representative of the average mineralogical content of all the samples (Kaźmierczak et al, 2011;Couradeau et al, 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sampling was carried out from the lake surface down to a 14-m water depth. The lake had a pH of 8.8 with a Mg/Ca ratio of 48 (Kaźmierczak et al, 2011). The bulk mass of the microbialites under the biofilms was white and composed mostly of hydromagnesite.…”

Section: Sample Collection and Fixationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bulk mass of the microbialites under the biofilms was white and composed mostly of hydromagnesite. A complete description of the lake chemistry and sampling protocol can be found in Kaźmierczak et al (2011). After collection, some microbialite fragments were directly fixed on the field in RNAlater (Ambion, Inc., Austin, TX, USA).…”

Section: Sample Collection and Fixationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the aim to detect particular mineralmicroorganism associations that might indicate the biogenicity of some mineral phases and point out to a direct role of microorganisms in microbialite formation we have looked for specific mineralmicrobe associations in modern microbialites collected from the alkaline (pH 8.9) crater lake of Alchichica located near Puebla, Mexico (Kaźmierczak et al, 2011). This lake is carbonateenriched and exhibits a Mg/Ca ratio of ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…40. Under these conditions, the precipitation of hydromagnesite (Mg 5 (CO 3 )4(OH)2 þ 4H 2 O), which is the dominant carbonate mineral in microbialites, is naturally favored (Kaźmierczak et al, 2011). Alchichica microbialites harbor a wide diversity of cyanobacteria, among which members of the Oscillatoriales and Pleurocapsales are the most abundant, but also members of many other prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineages are present (Couradeau et al, 2011(Couradeau et al, , 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Specific carbonate–microbe interactions in the modern microbialites of Lake Alchichica (Mexico)

et al. 2013

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The role of microorganisms in microbialite formation remains unresolved: do they induce mineral precipitation (microbes first) or do they colonize and/or entrap abiotic mineral precipitates (minerals first)? Does this role vary from one species to another? And what is the impact of mineral precipitation on microbial ecology? To explore potential biogenic carbonate precipitation, we studied cyanobacteria–carbonate assemblages in modern hydromagnesite-dominated microbialites from the alkaline Lake Alchichica (Mexico), by coupling three-dimensional imaging of molecular fluorescence emitted by microorganisms, using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Raman scattering/spectrometry from the associated minerals at a microscale level. Both hydromagnesite and aragonite precipitate within a complex biofilm composed of photosynthetic and other microorganisms. Morphology and pigment-content analysis of dominant photosynthetic microorganisms revealed up to six different cyanobacterial morphotypes belonging to Oscillatoriales, Chroococcales, Nostocales and Pleurocapsales, as well as several diatoms and other eukaryotic microalgae. Interestingly, one of these morphotypes, Pleurocapsa-like, appeared specifically associated with aragonite minerals, the oldest parts of actively growing Pleurocapsa-like colonies being always aragonite-encrusted. We hypothesize that actively growing cells of Pleurocapsales modify local environmental conditions favoring aragonite precipitation at the expense of hydromagnesite, which precipitates at seemingly random locations within the biofilm. Therefore, at least part of the mineral precipitation in Alchichica microbialites is most likely biogenic and the type of biominerals formed depends on the nature of the phylogenetic lineage involved. This observation may provide clues to identify lineage-specific biosignatures in fossil stromatolites from modern to Precambrian times.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Collection and Fixationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Collection and Fixationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Specific carbonate–microbe interactions in the modern microbialites of Lake Alchichica (Mexico)

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Serpentinicella

Quéméneur

Mei

Postec

et al. 2021

Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria

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Ser.pen.ti.ni.cel'la. N.L. neut. n. serpentinum serpentine; L. fem. n. cella a cell; N.L. fem. n. Serpentinicella a cell from serpentine. Firmicutes / Clostridia / Clostridiales / Clostridiaceae / Serpentinicella Serpentinicella is a genus in the family Clostridiaceae and phylum Firmicutes . It currently contains only one validly published species, Serpentinicella alkaliphila , which was isolated from a chimney of the serpentinite‐hosted Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field (PBHF), New Caledonia. This species is an alkaliphilic and mesophilic anaerobe that can grow in the absence of NaCl (tolerated up to 4%). The optimum growth pH and temperature of this species are 9.5 and 37°C, respectively. Cells of the strain 3b T are terminal spore forming and motile (with peritrichous flagella) rods (1–10 μm long and 0.4–0.6 μm wide), occurring singly or in pairs. It is chemoorganotrophic using proteinaceous compounds and organic acids but not sugars. The only substrates used for growth were lactate, pyruvate, and crotonate. The current knowledge of its habitat is limited to alkaline and/or saline ecosystems. DNA G + C content (mol%) : 33.2. Type species : Serpentinicella alkaliphila Mei et al. 2016 VP .

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Growth morphologies and plausible stressors ruling the formation of Late Pleistocene lacustrine carbonate buildups in the Maquinchao Basin (Argentina)

Eymard

Bilmes

Álvarez

et al. 2019

The Depositional Record

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In a seminal paper regarding the mechanisms of carbonate stromatolite formation, Ginsburg (1991, Controversies in Modern Geology, pp. 25–36) emphasized the need to question the relative role of microbes versus environment in their formation. The Maquinchao Basin is a continental lacustrine system in southern Argentina. It provides an ideal site to study carbonate buildups, the role of microbes and environmental stressors in their development and their implications in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Presently, the basin encompasses two lakes (Carri Laufquen Grande and Carri Laufquen Chica) joined by the ephemeral Maquinchao River. Fossil microbialites are found south and southwest of the largest lake. Preferential areas of development for fossil microbialites have been mapped using a high‐resolution differential Global Positioning System. Outcrops are located between 820 and 830 m elevation, higher than actual lake levels and the Maquinchao River where living microbialites have been observed. Field data along with microscopical observations and X‐ray diffraction analyses have revealed a heterogeneity in both distribution and macro‐morphotypes since carbonate buildups display different morphologies such as crust, columns, open flower‐like, rounded and ellipsoids. Conversely, on the meso and micro‐scale they show more homogeneous morphologies including laminations and shrubs. These microbial buildups are associated with basaltic substrates of variable size from pebbles to boulder. The homogeneity in meso and micro‐structures argue in favour of stable intrinsic parameters (i.e. microbial communities) whereas the variable macro‐morphotypes indicate changing extrinsic constraints such as steepness, energy and turbidity. The occurrence of distinctive morphotypes in buildups separated by outcrop and topography suggest that the Maquinchao microbialites are indicative of a former larger lake. Thus, the Maquinchao microbial buildups are a valuable proxy for water‐level evolution and therefore palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. They can be further used to interpret the apparently random distribution of morphological types and extension of microbialites in the geological past.

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Hydrochemistry and microbialites of the alkaline crater lake Alchichica, Mexico

Cited by 96 publications

References 61 publications

Specific carbonate–microbe interactions in the modern microbialites of Lake Alchichica (Mexico)

Specific carbonate–microbe interactions in the modern microbialites of Lake Alchichica (Mexico)

Serpentinicella

Growth morphologies and plausible stressors ruling the formation of Late Pleistocene lacustrine carbonate buildups in the Maquinchao Basin (Argentina)

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