They do not have chloroplasts. They are believed to have been the first oxygen-producing organisms and to have been responsible for generating the oxygen in the atmosphere, thus profoundly influencing the subsequent course of evolution. The organisms may be single-celled or filamentous, and may or may not be colonial. Some are capable of a gliding motility when in contact with a solid surface.
Many species can carry out the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
1. stromatolite A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 2. stromatolite Dictionary of Biology, Oxford University Press 3. A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 4. Archaeosphaeroides A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 5. All rights reserved.