Modern microbial mats in siliciclastic tidal flats: Evolution, structure and the role of hydrodynamics

The objectives of this paper are twofold. The first is to provide a general background review of microbial mats in tidal flats, including their evolution, structure, and morphology. The second objective is to provide a modern case study in which we examine the role of storms relative to day-to-day tidal currents. Although tidal currents could be an important eroding factor, we demonstrate that waves, no matter their magnitude, play a significant role in developing different types of MISS such as wrinkle structures and eroding mats into flipped-over fragments. Furthermore, we also show the significance of wave-induced pressure onto groundwater in forming other types of MISS as Kinneya structures and petee ridges. Knowing the environmental conditions to which present-day microbial mats are subject and how they evolve upon drastic changes in those conditions (i.e., storm events), represent an important basis for the interpretation of fossil MISS.