Say thank you to stromatolites.
No really.
Stromatolites are living fossils and the oldest living lifeforms on our planet. The name derives from the Greek, stroma, meaning “mattress”, and lithos, meaning “rock”. Stromatolite literally means “layered rock”. The existence of these ancient rocks extends three-quarters of the way back to the origins of the Solar System.
3.5 billion years old. And some still live!
Here is the lowdown. Stromatolites are stony structures built by colonies of microscopic photosynthesising organisms called cyanobacteria. As sediment layered in shallow water, bacteria grew over it, binding the sedimentary particles and building layer upon millimetre layer until the layers became mounds. Their empire-building brought with it their most important role in the planet’s history.
They breathed.
Using the sun to harness energy, they produced and built up the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere to about 20%, giving the kiss of life to all that was to evolve.
Living stromatolites are found in only a few salty lagoons or bays on Earth. Western Australia is internationally significant for its variety of stromatolite sites, both living and fossilised.
Think about it – the Earth itself is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, so well, stromatolites have been around since pretty much the dawn of time. Much before us. Before the dinosaurs. Before plants even. And thanks to them, all other forms of life evolved.
Breathe easy?
Breathe at all? Well, say thank you to stromatolites!