The Atlantic Ocean - Stromatolites of Lee Stocking Island
Locations
The Atlantic Ocean
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Introduction
The Atlantic is the second largest ocean on the planet. It is the resting place of the Titanic, home to the mysterious Bermuda Triangle and is the youngest of the Earth's great oceans. It reaches depths of 8,500 metres. Oceans investigates this influential body of water from a group of islands in its western reaches - the Bahamas.
Stromatolites of Lee Stocking Island
Overview
There are only a few locations on Earth where the organisms that contributed to the development of complex life still exist. Lee Stocking Island is one of them. The organisms are stromatolites. These structures that resemble rocks are one of the oldest living life forms on our planet.
Stromatolites have been around for over 3.5 billion years. These organisms are composed of colonies of bacteria that live on the structure's outer layer. These bacteria build up columns by binding particles in the water. The cyanobacteria, that form these structures, photosynthesize and produce oxygen which made it possible for complex life to develop on Earth billions of years ago.
| Importance: | These are some of the oldest living organisms in existence. |
| Dive category: | An open water dive, involving very strong currents, only suitable for strong swimmers. |
| Access: | Because of the fragility and importance of these structures, boat access is restricted in the Lee Stocking area. |
Interesting for
- Research Initiative on Bahamian Stromatolites (RIBS)
- More information on the research being carried out on the stromatolites of Lee Stocking Island.
- RIBS
- Origins of life
- This article published in Science Daily explains how new methods of research have revolutionised understanding of stromatolites.
- New approach helps expand study of living fossils
BBC related content
- Oceans presenter biography: Paul Rose
- Oceans presenter biography: Tooni Mahto
- Oceans image gallery: The Atlantic Ocean
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