Abstract
This article is conceived as an introduction to “Fossil and Recent Biofilms”. Fossil and recent microbial communities adhering to, overgrowing and enmeshing inorganic substrates are introduced. The biofilm substrates embrace rocks and minerals exposed to the atmosphere or to overlying water bodies of different salinity and include deeply buried sediments and rocks. Biofilm communities active in soil, sediment and rock interstices, cavities, cleavages, and cracks until deep into the Earth crust are dealt with. Definitions and common traits of a biofilm, biodictyon and biomat (microbial mat) are presented and discussed. Fossilised examples as well as ichnofossils (trace fossils) of extant communities are sketched. Some science history reflections are included. New terms such as biodictyon, geophysiology, parahistology, and global mechanisms of microbial communities in past and present planetary ages are defined. The intimate relationship between major rock types such as biolaminated sequences (and ore deposits), stromatolites, oolites, onkolites and also reef type deposits is discussed. The planetary and exobiological dimension and global importance of biofilms, microbial mats and network microbial communities are noted.
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Krumbein, W.E., Brehm, U., Gerdes, G., Gorbushina, A.A., Levit, G., Palinska, K.A. (2003). Biofilm, Biodictyon, Biomat Microbialites, Oolites, Stromatolites Geophysiology, Global Mechanism, Parahistology. In: Krumbein, W.E., Paterson, D.M., Zavarzin, G.A. (eds) Fossil and Recent Biofilms. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0193-8_1
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