What are Microbial Mats?

Abstract

Awareness of biofilms and microbial mats is not a modern attribute (see, in this context, Krumbein, 1993, 1994; Krumbein et al., 2003). Slippery surfaces, mucilage-embedded organic films, plaques, or rock patina may have not only stimulated olfactory, tactile, and visual senses, but also initiated questions about reasons. Today, various fields in biology, chemistry, medicine, geology, paleontology, and finally astrobiology share interest in biofilms and microbial mats. Their wealth of scientific questions results in a choice of definitions.