The Microbial Factor of Travertine Deposition between Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA and Huanglong Scenic, Sichuan

Abstract

Yellow Stone National Park (YNP), USA, is well-known as its glorious travertine geomorphology as well as Huanglong National Scenic District in Sichuan, China. But there were some difference between them. The travertine deposition of YNP were formed from geothermal activity, meanwhile Huanglong Scenic District is located in high attitude and cold area and the travertine deposition appeared in the cold water. With the increasing attention to global carbon cycle, origin of life and the life action in the extreme environment, the geothermal travertine formation origin and mechanism were focused by the scientists from different field. The research plan was also a part of “the Mars project”. The reason was that the Mars’s surface environment is similar to that of the ancient Earth. This article reviewed the research results of the microbiology diversity, community structure and distribution, function gene and special microbial carbon metabolism passway in the hot spring of YNP. We also summarized the biological factor in the process of the travertine deposition of YNP. After comparing the research progress on the travertine deposition between YNP and Huanglong Scenic District, we put foreword the further strategy to understand the biological effect on the travertine deposition of Huanglong Scenic District.

Effects of different calcium sources on the mineralization and sand curing of CaCO3by carbonic anhydrase-producing bacteria

“…Here, a large amount of cold-water travertine was formed with the perennially low temperature (4 °C) and at a high elevation (3145–3578 m). 15 Studies on the travertine in Huanglong have shown that the biodiversity of bacteria and algae is significantly high, and the water contains a large amount of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and HCO 3 − , thus forming an unique travertine landform and cold adaption condition. 16 Hence, a study of aboriginal bacteria in Huanglong can provide reference for the research and application of biomineralization in a low temperature environment.…”

Fungi as Architects of the Rimstone Dams in Huanglong, NSD, Sichuan, China

“…It turns out that the calcite in Huanglong dams is a typical anisotropic lattice distortion, which means that biogenic factors have contributed to its formation [3]. However, there is little information on how any life form may have contributed to travertine dam formation of Huanglong [4]. Recently, the influence of diatoms on travertine dam formation at the Huanglong Natural Scenic District has been studied but no conclusive information on the direct involvement of diatoms in the direct formation of the calcite structure of the dams has been provided [3].…”