Molecular Ecology of Hypersaline Microbial Mats: Current Insights and New Directions.
Microbial mats are unique geobiological ecosystems that form as a result of complex communities of microorganisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. Both the microorganisms present and the network of metabolic interactions govern ecosystem function therein. These systems are often found in a range of extreme environments, and those found in elevated salinity have been particularly well studied. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe the molecular ecology of select model hypersaline mat systems (Guerrero Negro, Shark Bay, S'Avall, and Kiritimati Atoll), and any potentially modulating effects caused by salinity to community structure. In addition, we discuss several emerging issues in the field (linking function to newly discovered phyla and microbial dark matter), which illustrate the changing paradigm that is seen as technology has rapidly advanced in the study of these extreme and evolutionally significant ecosystems.
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia. h.l.wong@unsw.edu.au.|Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia. h.l.wong@unsw.edu.au.
Hon Lun
HL
Wong
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia. a.ahmed-cox@unsw.edu.au.
Aria
A
Ahmed-Cox
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia. brendan.burns@unsw.edu.au.|Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia. brendan.burns@unsw.edu.au.
Brendan Paul
BP
Burns
hypersaline mats; microbial dark matter; microbial diversity; niche differentiation
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