Ecology of algal mats and their role in the formation of stromatolites in Antarctic dry valley lakes

Algal mats comprised primarily of Phormidium frigidum Fritsch, Lyngbya martensiana Menegh., and several species of pennate diatoms are found in the below-ice benthic regions of Lakes Bonney, Chad, Hoare, Fryxell, and Vanda, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Mats are also found in the littoral moats and ice-covers of several lakes, and in cryoconite holes on Canada Glacier. Variations in temperature, light, oxygen, salinity, and nutrient levels between lakes and different habitats in the same lake result in differences in species composition, morphology, biomass, and photosynthetic pigment content of the mats. Algal mats are trapping and binding sediment, and precipitating minerals, particularly calcite. Mats are removing organic and inorganic matter from the arheic lakes via transfer through the icecovers or by incorporation into the sediments. Some of the algal mats are laminated, organosedimentary structures and can be considered stromatolitic. Depending upon ambient and subsequent environmental conditions non-columnar, columnar, and pinnacle-shaped stromatolites are forming, some of which are partially lithified. If environmental variables (i.e. low light intensity, lack of burrowers or browsers, and relative lack of turbulence) associated with these stromatolites do not vary significantly, it is probable that they may result in a lacustrine carbonate sedimentary deposit.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Botany

Department dc:contributor.department

Botany

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• Wharton, Robert A.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Parker, Bruce C.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Simmons, George Jr.
• Scheckler, Stephen E.
• Esen, Asim
• Seraites, J.C.
• Paterson, Robert A.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/87363

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/87363