Exploring molecular and hydroecology of lithifying and non-lithifying microbial mats from hypersaline lakes at Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Metagenomics was used to: (i) compare taxonomic/functional diversity of lithifying and non-lithifying mats from Rottnest hypersaline lakes, and (ii) observe the mats response to water chemistry seasonal variation. This study has improved our understanding of the environmental limits for microbialites formation and whether distinctions in the microbial mat community and their functional gene composition influence microbialites accretion. Results revealed that both mats harbor taxa and functional genes known to play important roles in microbialite formation but seasonal variation in key metabolic activities occurred only in lithifying mats. Non-lithifying mats are potentially impacted by water salinity decrease caused by external processes.