Ancient microbial mats

Ancient microbial mats are layered communities of microbes, mainly bacteria and archaea, that thrived in early Earth’s environments billions of years ago. These mats formed thick, sticky sheets on aquatic surfaces, often in shallow seas and hot springs, where different microbes performed various functions like photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and waste processing. These mats created complex structures and played a crucial role in shaping Earth’s early ecosystems and atmosphere—especially by producing oxygen through photosynthesis. Today, similar microbial mats are found in extreme environments, offering insight into early life on Earth and potential life elsewhere in the universe.