Influence of terrestrial productivity by photosynthetic microbial mats on biogeochemical cycles over the Neoproterozoic landscape

During the Neoproterozoic, early land biota consisted of cyanobacteria, microalgae and various fungi or fungi-like communities. Although called micro-organisms, their role in stabilising environments, and driving and controlling nutrient cycles [1], creates a macro-scale impact. Photosynthetic microbial mats are predicted to have been present ~3 billion years ago, creating microcosms of oxygen-rich environments that contribute towards global net primary productivity, weathering and nitrogen fixation [2]. However due to the lack of fossil evidence and understanding of their role in a non-vegetated environment, it is unclear what their impact is on biogeochemical cycling and thus the shaping of Neoproterozoic climate. Building on the new process based spatial vegetation model [3], we try to understand the role of expanding microbial communities on events such as the Neoproterozic Oxygenation Event and Snowball Earth.

 

[1] Taylor, T.N., Krings, M. (2005) Fossil microorganisms and land plants: Associations and interactions. Symbiosis 40:119-135

[2] Lenton, T.M., Daines, S.J. (2016) Matworld- the biogeochemical effects of early life on land. New Phytologist 215: 505-507

[3] Gurung, K., Field, K.J, et al. (2024) Geographic range of plants drives long-term climate change. Nature Comms 15: 1805