Abstract
Some microscopic organisms grow together to build structures known as microbial mats. These mats are formed from several layers with different colors, and their structure depends on environmental conditions such as sunlight, humidity, and available food. Microbial mats are found in oceans, lakes, and coastal lagoons, as well as in extreme environments like deserts, polar regions, and hot springs. The study of fossils indicates that microbial mats were a common form of life on early Earth, and they have persisted on our planet ever since! Therefore, the study of modern mats helps us to understand microbial life in the past, and how they might help to regulate the Earth’s climate. Scientists believe that microbial mats can prosper on rocky planets like Earth, so they are studying mats in different terrestrial environments to help them to recognize evidence indicating the presence of mats on other worlds.
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