Diversity, Mechanisms of Formation, and Predicted Fate of Modern Microbialites on a Rapidly Changing Planet

Accurately interpreting ancient microbialites requires a detailed understanding of how they form, including teasing apart the respective roles of environmental factors versus microbial activity. Modern microbialites serve as essential tools for this purpose. Currently, microbialites form in both marine and continental settings, displaying remarkable diversity in terms of formation environments, size, morphology, texture, and mineralogical composition. Their growth involves various mineralization mechanisms, such as the onset of localized high-supersaturation zones and mineral templating by extracellular polymeric substances. Additionally, primary biogeochemical signals are often altered during early diagenesis. Finally, the study of modern microbialites increasingly focuses on their responses to anthropogenic pressures. This is vital knowledge for predicting their future and setting conservation efforts to preserve these natural archives.