the basic organism-sediment interaction
that produces stromatolites and other algal-laminated sediments are when
communities of cyanobacteria form organic films of mainly mucilaginous
material
they effectively stabilize sedimentary
surfaces by trapping and binding clastic particles of sediment.
the "algal mats" generally stabilize
the sediment-water interface.
scanning electron micrograph of a microbial mat, showing
filaments. (Jannasch, 1984)
