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

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dc.contributor.authorWharton, Robert A.en
dc.contributor.committeechairParker, Bruce C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSimmons, George Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeememberScheckler, Stephen E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberEsen, Asimen
dc.contributor.committeememberSeraites, J.C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPaterson, Robert A.en
dc.contributor.departmentBotanyen
dc.contributor.departmentBotanyen
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-31T19:04:11Zen
dc.date.available2019-01-31T19:04:11Zen
dc.date.issued1982en
dc.description.abstractAlgal 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.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extentx, 117, [2] leavesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/87363en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 8731305en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1982.W527en
dc.subject.lcshStromatolitesen
dc.subject.lcshPaleobotany -- Antarcticaen
dc.titleEcology of algal mats and their role in the formation of stromatolites in Antarctic dry valley lakesen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineBotanyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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