A pink and green biostrome taken from the north arm (Gunnison Bay) of the Great Salt Lake, Utah. The waters in this bay were near saturation 30% (300 ppt), allowing only specialized organisms to grow. The microbes shown here cause calcium carbonate to precipitate forming the rock known as biostromes, bioherms or stromatolites. Reefs of these biostromes are common down to depths of 2-3 m. In the south arm of the lake, green cyanobacteria are the dominant organism causing the biostromes to form.


These microorganisms are currently under study at Utah State University.


Photo: Photo by Jodi Gardberg, 17 August 2009