Microbial mat

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/microbial-mat

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Not applicable (a community of organisms, not a single species)
2. What is the conservation status?Not applicable (ubiquitous microbial communities with no defined population boundaries)
3. What are microbial mats?Microbial mats are layered communities of tiny bacteria and archaea that grow on wet or underwater surfaces. They look like tiny living carpets and have many different layers that each live in their own special environment.
4. How did microbial mats help make Earth's air?When they started doing photosynthesis, they turned carbon dioxide and water into oxygen. Over billions of years, this oxygen built up in the atmosphere, making it possible for many kinds of life to grow.

Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS): A matrix of organic polymers secreted by microorganisms, providing structural integrity and protection.
Bioturbation: The disturbance of sedimentary layers by the biological activity of organisms, such as burrowing.
Chemosynthesis: The synthesis of organic compounds using energy derived from chemical reactions, rather than sunlight.