Note: Microbial Mats -- Table of Contents -- FOREWORD: -- 1. Mats and Evolution -- 2. Microbial Mats for Field Research -- 3. Archaea and Bacteria -- PREFACE -- LIST OF AUTHORS for "Microbial mats" -- WHAT ARE MICROBIAL MATS ? -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Phenotypic Variations of Microbial Mats and Related Sedimentary Structures -- 2.1. LOCAL DOMINANCE OF CERTAIN MORPHOTYPES CONTROL MAT FABRICS -- 2.2. INDUCED GROWTH PHENOMENA -- 2.2.1. Growth Induced by Sedimentation Processes -- 2.2.2. Trapping/Baffling, Binding -- 2.2.3. Competitive Overriding: Biovarvites -- 2.2.4. Mat Surface Morphologies -- 2.3. Growth Responses to Physical Mat Destruction -- 2.3.1. Healing Cracks (Case Study) -- 2.4. MICROBIAL "JOINT VENTURE" -- 3. Summary and Conclusion -- 4. References -- PAPER FROM OUTER SPACE - ON "METEORPAPIER" AND MICROBIAL MATS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Early Reports on "Meteorpapier" and Theories on Its Origin -- 3. The Elucidation of the True Nature of the "Meteorpapier" -- 4. Final Comments -- 5. References2 -- MICROBIAL MATS ON THE EARLY EARTH: The Archean Rock Record -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Examples of Archean Microbial Mats -- 2.1. KAAPVAAL CRATON -- 2.2. PILBARA CRATON -- 3. Discussion -- 4. Conclusions -- 5. Acknowledgments -- 6. References -- GUNFLINT CHERT MICROBIOTA REVISITED - NEITHER STROMATOLITES, NOR CYANOBACTERIA -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Material and Methods -- 2.1. GUNFLINT -- 2.2. FRENCH/SWISS JURASSIC AND WARSTEIN TERTIARY -- 2.3. CULTURES -- 3. Results and Discussion -- 4. Conclusions -- 5. References -- PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT OF MICROBIAL MAT-RELATED STRUCTURES IN SILICICLASTIC ROCKS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Brief Overview of (Paleo)Environmental Relationships of Mat-Formed Features -- 3. The Importance of Microtopography: Influence on Mat Types, Mat Growth and Mat Features in All Settings -- 4. Case Studies. , 4.1. MAGALIESBERG FORMATION (Ca. 2.1 Ga), KAAPVAAL CRATON, SOUTH AFRICA -- 4.2. SONIA SANDSTONE (Ca. 0.6 Ga), RAJASTHAN, INDIA -- 4.3. VINDHYAN SUPERGROUP (~1.7-0.6 Ga), BHANDARA CRATON -- 5. Influence of Mat Growth on Facies Stacking Patterns and Sequence Stratigraphic Architecture -- 6. Discussion -- 7. Conclusions -- 8. References -- MICROBIALLY RELATED STRUCTURES IN SILICICLASTIC SEDIMENT RESEMBLING EDIACARAN FOSSILS: Examples from India, Ancient and Modern -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Geological Background of the Ancient Formations -- 3. Sedimentologic Frame of the Modern Setting -- 4. Microbial Mat-Related Structures Resembling Ediacaran Fossils -- 4.1. FEATURES IN THE CHORHAT SANDSTONE -- 4.2. FEATURES IN THE SIRBU SHALE -- 4.3. FEATURES IN THE SONIA SANDSTONE -- 4.4. MAT FEATURES FROM THE MODERN GULF OF CAMBAY -- 5. Discussion -- 6. Conclusions -- 7. References -- OSMOTROPHIC BIOFILMS: FROM MODERN TO ANCIENT -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Osmotrophic Biofilms in Subterranean Caves and Karsts -- 3. Osmotrophs in Other Early Terrestrial Settings -- 4. Osmotrophic Biodictyons in Ancient Tree Resins and Soils -- 5. Osmotrophic Mats in Modern Marine Settings -- 6. Osmotrophic Mats in Ediacaran Marginal Seas -- 7. Osmotrophic Mats in Deeper Ediacaran Seas -- 8. Osmotrophs and the Cambrian Explosion -- 9. Conclusion -- 10. Acknowledgments -- 11. References -- MICROBIAL MATS AS A SOURCE OF BIOSIGNATURES -- 1. What Is a Microbial Mat? -- 1.1. MICROBIAL MATS AS PRECURSORS OF STROMATOLITES -- 1.2. ACCRETION OF A MICROBIAL MAT -- 1.3. CALCIFICATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF A UBIQUITOUS MICROBIAL-MINERAL INTERACTION -- 2. Microbial Mats as a Source of Diverse Biosignatures -- 3. Chemical Biosignatures Embedded in Microbial Mats -- 4. Morphological Biosignatures -- 4.1. MACROSCOPIC -- 4.2. MICROSCOPIC BIOSIGNATURES -- 4.2.1. Microfossils -- 4.2.2. Microbial Ichnofossils. , 5. Concluding Remarks -- 6. Acknowledgments -- 7. References -- MOLECULAR INVESTIGATIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL MANIPULATIONS OF MICROBIAL MATS: A VIEW TO PALEOMICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS -- 1. Evolution of Microbial Mats -- 2. Dominant Microorganisms in Hypersaline Microbial Mats -- 3. Community Structure of Microbial Mats as Revealed by Lipid Biomarker Analysis -- 4. Manipulation Experiments of Hypersaline Microcoleus Mats -- 4.1. LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTALLY LOWERED SALINITY -- 4.2. LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF LOWERED SULFATE -- 5. Acknowledgments -- 6. References -- ARCHITECTURE OF ARCHAEAL-DOMINATED MICROBIAL MATS FROM COLD SEEPS IN THE BLACK SEA (DNJEPR CANYON, LOWER CRIMEAN SHELF) -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Materials and Methods -- 3. Principal Build-up and Community Structure of the Archaeal-Dominated AOM Microbial Mats -- 4. The External Black Microbial Mat -- 5. The Internal Orange/Pink Microbial Mat -- 6. Architecture and Structure of Cold-Seep-Related Carbonate Towers -- 7. Description of the Microbial Mat Spheres: The "Sponge Model" -- 8. Carbonate and Fe-Sulfide Phases -- 9. Acknowledgments -- 10. References -- BIODYNAMICS OF MODERN MARINE STROMATOLITES -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Recent Biodynamic Studies -- 2.1. RECONSTITUTION STUDIES -- 2.2. HOW MUCH STROMATOLITE MATERIAL IS NEEDED TO STABILIZE -- 3. Discussion -- 4. Acknowledgments -- 5. References -- ENTOPHYSALIS MATS AS ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Entophysalis in the Microbial Mats of Abu Dhabi (UAE) -- 3. Morphotypic Properties of Entophysalis -- 4. Macro- and Microscale Distribution of Entophysalis -- 5. Entophysalis and Stromatolites -- 6. Fossil Entophysalis -- 7. Concluding Remarks -- 8. References -- DIVERSITY AND ROLE OF CYANOBACTERIA AND AEROBIC HETEROTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS IN CARBON CYCLING IN ARID CYANOBACTERIAL MATS -- 1. Introduction. , 1.1. EXTREME ARID ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND MULTIPLE STRESS -- 1.2. MICROBIAL MAT TYPES -- 2. Autotrophy and Heterotrophy: General Overview of Carbon Cycling in Microbial Mats -- 3. Carbon Flow in the Uppermost Mat Layer -- 4. Oxygenic Phototrophs: The Driving Force for Carbon Cycling -- 5. Aerobic Heterotrophic Prokaryotes: Diversity and Fundamental Role in Microbial Mats -- 5.1. DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AEROBIC HETEROTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS -- 5.2. INTERACTION BETWEEN CYANOBACTERIA AND AEROBIC HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA IN CARBON CYCLING -- 6. Effect of Salinity on Carbon Cycling in Microbial Mats -- 6.1. SALINITY DETERMINES THE DIVERSITY OF PHOTOTROPHS AND HETEROTROPHS -- 6.2. TIDAL POSITION AND CARBON CYCLING -- 6.3. WHY HIGH SALINITIES INHIBIT PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND AEROBIC RESPIRATION? -- 7. Temperature Regulation of Carbon Cycling -- 8. Concluding Remarks -- 9. References -- OOID ACCRETING DIATOM COMMUNITIES FROM THE MODERN MARINE STROMATOLITES AT HIGHBORNE CAY, BAHAMAS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Stalked Diatoms -- 3. Tube-Forming Diatoms -- 4. Diatoms and Stromatolite Biogenesis -- 5. Acknowledgments -- 6. References -- EXOPOLYMERS (EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCES) IN DIATOM-DOMINATED MARINE SEDIMENT BIOFILMS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Measuring EPS in Natural MPB Biofilms -- 3. EPS Production in Diatom Biofilms -- 4. References -- MICROBIAL MATS FROM WIND FLATS OF THE SOUTHERN BALTIC SEA -- 1. The Baltic Sea - Special Features Enabling the Development of Microbial Mats -- 2. Microbial Mats in the "Bock" Wind Flat -- 3. Community Structure of Microbial Mats of the "Bock" Wind Flat -- 3.1. CYANOBACTERIA -- 3.2. DIATOMS -- 3.3. HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA -- 3.4. PURPLE SULFUR BACTERIA -- 3.5. PROTOZOA AS MICROGRAZERS -- 4. Productivity of Microbial Mats in the "Bock" Wind Flat -- 5. Conclusions -- 6. References -- DIAZOTROPHIC MICROBIAL MATS. , 1. Introduction -- 2. Occurrence of Microbial Mats -- 2.1. INTERTIDAL MICROBIAL MATS -- 2.2. ANTARCTIC MICROBIAL MATS -- 2.3. HOT SPRING MICROBIAL MATS -- 2.4. HYPERSALINE MICROBIAL MATS -- 3. Factors Controlling Occurrence and Performance of Diazotrophic Microbial Mats -- 3.1. TEMPERATURE -- 3.2. SALINITY -- 4. Summary -- 5. References -- ARCHITECTURES OF BIOCOMPLEXITY: Lichen-dominated Soil Crusts and Mats -- 1. Introduction -- 2. From Lichen Crusts to Lichen Mats on Exposed Soils -- 3. Community Structure of Lichen Crusts and Mats on Soils -- 4. Interior Design of Lichen-Dominated Soil Crusts -- 5. Accessory Cyanobacteria: Cyanotrophy and Cephalodia -- 6. Selective Assemblages -- 7. Acknowledgments -- 8. References -- IRON AND BACTERIAL BIOFILM DEVELOPMENT -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Iron Acquisition and Regulation in Bacteria -- 2.1. IRON UPTAKE BY SIDEROPHORES -- 2.2. NON-SIDEROPHORE IRON UPTAKE -- 2.3. IRON sTARVATION SIGMA FACTOR -- 2.4. FUR AND sRNA REGULATION -- 3. Biofilms and Corrosion -- 4. Biofilm Formation and Iron Regulation -- 4.1. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS -- 4.2. STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS -- 4.3. PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA -- 4.4. ESCHERICHIA COLI -- 4.5. VIBRIO CHOLERAE -- 4.6. ORAL PATHOGENS -- 4.7. MYCOBACTERIUM SMEGMATIS -- 4.8. IRON AND THE BIOFILM MATRIX -- 5. Concluding Remarks -- 6. References -- MATS OF FILAMENTOUS AND UNICELLULAR CYANOBACTERIA IN HYPERSALINE ENVIRONMENTS -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Microcoleus chthonoplastes as a Mat-Forming Microorganism -- 3. Mats of Unicellular and Filamentous Cyanobacteria Embedded in Gypusm Crusts -- 4. Final Comments -- 5. Acknowledgments -- 6. References -- MARINE HYPERSALINE MICROCOLEUS-DOMINATED CYANOBACTERIAL MATS IN THE SALTERN AT GUERRERO NEGRO, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO: -- 1. Introduction. , 2. Seawater Evaporation Ponds and Photosynthetic Biota along the Salinity Gradient in the Exportadora de Sal, S. A. (ESSA), G.