‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began

Special ‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began
Two of the team from KAUST at work on the stromatolite field in the intertidal zone off Sheybarah Island. (Photo by Viswasanthi Chandra)
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Updated 09 June 2024
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‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began

‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began
  • Colony of living stromatolites discovered by KAUST team being hailed as a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists
  • Geology professor Volker Vahrenkamp had set out to take a closer look at a phenomenon they first spotted on satellite images

LONDON: It was something of an accidental discovery, admits Volker Vahrenkamp with a smile.

“Sometimes, these things need a little luck.”

Vahrenkamp, a professor of geology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, had set out with a team of colleagues to take a closer look at a coastal geological phenomenon they had spotted on satellite images.




Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, some of which trap sediment in their filaments. (UNSW Sydney/Brendan Burns)

The so-called teepee structures, a tent-shaped buckling of sedimentary deposits found in intertidal zones, are valuable indicators of environmental changes, ancient and modern.

The team was delighted to discover there were examples virtually on their doorstep — just 400 kilometers up the coast from KAUST, off the southern tip of Sheybarah Island, best known for Red Sea Global’s luxury tourism resort of the same name.

“There aren’t really many good examples of teepee structures, where people can study how they form,” Vahrenkamp told Arab News.

“Then we spotted this, and it’s the most spectacular example that I’m aware of.”

The satellite images had shown that there were two teepee fields in the island’s intertidal zone and, after a short boat trip across from the mainland on a converted fishing boat, “we landed on the island, examined one field, and then started walking across to the other.”

And then, as they crossed the foreshore between the two, “we literally stepped on these stromatolites.”

Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, individually invisible to the naked eye, some of which trap sediment in their filaments.




The stromatolites are built up in layers over years thanks to the actions of tiny microbes. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)

Living on rocks in the intertidal zone, they are covered and uncovered daily by the coming and going of the tides and, in a process known as biomineralization, slowly transform the dissolved minerals and sand grains they capture into a solid mass.

Human beings, and every other living thing on Earth that relies on oxygen to survive, owe their very existence to the tiny, so-called cyanobacteria that have been creating stromatolites for about 3.5 billion years.

Cyanobacteria were one of the first lifeforms on Earth, at a time when the planet’s atmosphere consisted mainly of carbon dioxide and methane. When they emerged about 3.5 billion years ago, they possessed a particular skill — the ability to generate energy from sunlight.




Seen magnified multiple times under a scanning electron microscope, in this section of a stromatolite measuring just 0.4 mm across the microbial filaments and the sediment they have trapped can clearly be seen. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)

This process, photosynthesis, had a crucial by-product — oxygen. Scientists now believe that the microscopic cyanobacteria were responsible for the biggest thing that ever happened on the planet — the Great Oxidation Event, which saw Earth’s atmosphere transformed and set the scene for the evolution of oxygen-dependent life as we now know it.

Most stromatolites today are merely fossils. As other life on Earth developed, they lost their foothold in the planet’s oceans to competitors, such as coral reefs.




Volker Vahrenkamp, professor of geology at KAUST. (Supplied)

In a few places in the world, however, “modern” living stromatolites, “analogs for their ancient counterparts,” as Vahrenkamp puts it, continue to grow.

“Stromatolites are a vestige of the earliest life on Earth,” he said. “They ruled the Earth for an incredible period of time, about 3 billion years.

“Today they are part of the rock record in many parts of the world, but from these old rocks it is impossible to work out what type of microbes were involved and exactly how they did what they did.”

INNUMBERS

400 kilometers Distance of teepee fields from KAUST campus

3 billion Years when rock-like stromatolites ruled the Earth

120 Meters by which sea level was lower during last Ice Age

That’s why the discovery of a rare colony of living stromatolites, such as the one-off Sheybarah Island, is such a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists.

“When you find a modern example such as this, the chances are that you might be able to better understand how the interaction of this microbial community led to the creation of stromatolites.”

Other examples are known, but they are almost always found in extreme environments, such as alkaline lakes and ultra-saline lagoons, where competitors cannot thrive.




Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

One previous colony has been found in a more normal marine environment, in the Bahamas — which Vahrenkamp has visited, which is why he so readily recognized what he was walking on off Sheybarah Island — but this is the first example of living stromatolites discovered in Saudi waters.

It is not yet clear how old these stromatolites are, “but we can bracket it a little,” said Vahrenkamp.

“We know that during the last Ice Age, the sea level here was 120 meters lower, so they were not there 20,000 years ago. The area where they are was flooded about 8,000 years ago to a height about 2 meters above where it is now, and then the sea level receded again to where it is now about 2,000 years ago.”




Sheybarah Island Resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

This does not mean the stromatolites are 2,000 years old. No one knows how long it takes the microbes to create their sedimentary layer cake and “no one has yet come up with a good way of dating the layers.

“The tide and the waves come along and throw in sand and material from the surrounding reefs and so all kinds of ages might be present. This makes it very difficult to precisely date the stromatolites and to estimate the growth rate.”

That is why Vahrenkamp and colleagues are now devising an experiment to recreate the natural environment of rising and falling tides and alternating sunlight and darkness in an aquarium, in an effort to grow stromatolites under controlled, easily observable conditions




Sheybarah Island at an early stage of construction. (Red Sea Global photo)

Whether this will take weeks or many years, “we honestly don’t know.”

The team is also working on genetically sequencing many of the thousands of different types of microbial bacteria at work in the stromatolite factory.

“It’s a question of finding out ‘who’ is there, and who’s doing what,” said Vahrenkamp

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“But then there is also the question of what kind of functionalities do these bacteria have, and whether we can we use it in other ways, perhaps in medical applications.

“Scientists are now looking intently at the microbial composition of our guts, to find out which microbes cause cancer, for example, and which prevent it. The microbacteria at work in stromatolites could contain functional secrets that we simply are not yet aware of.”

The discovery also has resonance for the environmental ambitions of the Saudi Green Initiative, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021 and which aims, together with the Middle East Green Initiative, to combat climate change through regional cooperation.




Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

As Vahrenkamp and his seven co-authors wrote in a paper published recently in Geology, the journal of the Geological Society of America, “the discovery of the Sheybarah stromatolite fields holds important implications, not only in the scientific perspective, but also in terms of ecosystem services and environmental heritage awareness in line with the ongoing projects for sustainability and ecotourism development promoted by Saudi Arabia.”

In the paper, the KAUST scientists thank Red Sea Global for its support in accessing the stromatolite site, which is currently being considered for designation as a conservation zone.

As for the tourists relaxing in the spectacular new overwater villas on Sheybarah Island’s crystal-clear Al-Wajh Lagoon, an extra attraction now is that a short stroll along the beach will take them back in time for a glimpse of life on Earth 3.5 billion years ago.


 


Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU

Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU
Updated 6 sec ago
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Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU

Henan University boosts academic ties with visit to KAU
  • Delegation met KAU’s Acting Vice President Prof. Hana Abdullah Al-Nuaim to discuss strategies for joint initiatives in research, training and education
  • Visiting delegation commending KAU’s state-of-the-art research and training capabilities

JEDDAH: A delegation from Henan University in China visited King Abdulaziz University, or KAU, in Jeddah on Wednesday to explore opportunities for strengthening academic collaboration.

During their visit, the delegation met KAU’s Acting Vice President Prof. Hana Abdullah Al-Nuaim, to discuss strategies for joint initiatives in research, training and education.

The Chinese delegation toured several facilities at KAU, including the King Faisal Convention Center, the Central Library and the Sports Village. Their visit also included the Chinese Culture and Science Institute, a bridge for cultural and knowledge exchange between the Kingdom and China.

The visiting delegation expressed their admiration for the academic standards of KAU, commending its state-of-the-art research and training capabilities.

They underscored the importance of the visit in deepening academic collaboration between the two universities and facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge across academic and research domains.


Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president

Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president
Updated 3 min 22 sec ago
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Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president

Saudi reforms have ‘reinforced unwavering principles of justice, equality,’ says HRC president
  • Since Vision 2030 launched, Kingdom has ‘witnessed unprecedented openness’: Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri
  • ‘Number of women serving as chairpersons or vice-chairpersons of boards reached 327, and the number of women board members reached 1005,’ delegation says

GENEVA: Saudi Arabia has implemented sustained reforms that have reinforced its unwavering principles of justice and equality, the president of the Kingdom’s Human Rights Commission said on Wednesday.
Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Kingdom has “witnessed unprecedented openness to diverse races, cultures and religions,” said Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri.
She is heading the Kingdom’s delegation to the 114th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Tuwaijri said: “The Kingdom’s territory is now home to over 13 million residents of more than 60 nationalities, constituting over 40 percent of the population.”
She added that these residents enjoy equal rights and protection from racial discrimination.
The HRC chief highlighted the issuance and amendment of regulations promoting protection from discrimination.
She said that national policy to encourage equal opportunities and treatment in employment and occupation is a key initiative to eliminate labor market discrimination.
Al-Tuwaijri highlighted national policy to prevent child labor. She also pointed to the establishment of labor courts as a qualitative advancement in the realm of labor justice.
The late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman established the Kingdom on the bedrock principles of justice, equality and the rejection of racism and discrimination, she said.
Under the Saudi leadership, a contemporary interpretation of these steadfast principles has led to the development of a comprehensive legislative, institutional and judicial framework to combat racism and racial discrimination, she added.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Saudi delegation to the CERD session said that many regulations and bylaws in the Kingdom have been amended to achieve equality between men and women.
These include the Travel Documents Law, Civil Status Law, Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.
As a result, by the third quarter of 2024, women’s participation in the labor market reached 35.4 percent, with a change rate of 108 percent since 2017, surpassing Vision 2030 targets, the statement said.
“The number of women serving as chairpersons or vice-chairpersons of boards reached 327, and the number of women board members reached 1005. Women held 43.8 percent of mid and senior management positions in the private sector.
“The number of female ambassadors abroad stood at six, with 204 female diplomats and 246 women working in international institutions abroad,” the statement said.


Saudi interior minister, Algerian president hold meeting

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers
Updated 19 min 49 sec ago
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Saudi interior minister, Algerian president hold meeting

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers

RIYADH: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday.

During the meeting at the presidential palace in Algiers, they reviewed Saudi-Algerian relations and security cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Abdulaziz passed on the best wishes of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and expressed hope for Algeria's “continued success and prosperity.”


Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology

Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology
Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology

Saudi Arabia, Brazil partner on space technology
  • Scheme will promote the sustainable use of orbital resources and enable the use of modern technologies in space data analysis
  • Forms part of the commission’s efforts to enhance international partnerships and leverage its expertise in communications, space and technology

RIYADH: The Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission has launched an initiative for a research study in space sustainability in collaboration with Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency.

It is the result of a previous agreement between the two parties.

The scheme will promote the sustainable use of orbital resources and enable the use of modern technologies in space data analysis.

It was launched on the platform of the 2024 International Forum on Non-Terrestrial Networks, where Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, governor of the commission, invited the international community to take part and support research on space sustainability for the benefit of future generations.

The scheme is part of the commission’s efforts to enhance international partnerships and leverage its expertise in communications, space and technology.


Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait

Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait
Updated 28 November 2024
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Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait

Saudi FM meets with GCC ministers ahead of Supreme Council session in Kuwait
  • Israeli military campaign in Gaza, ceasefire in Lebanon is discussed during a preparatory GCC ministerial meeting
  • Saudi ambassador to Kuwait attended meeting

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part on Thursday in a preparatory ministerial meeting ahead of a GCC Supreme Council session due to take place in Kuwait on Sunday.

The meeting was chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal discussed with his counterparts the latest developments in regional and international issues, including the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, achieving a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon.

The GCC ministers also discussed the progress in implementing the decisions agreed upon during the former 44th session of the GCC Supreme Council, as well as dialogue and strategic cooperation among GCC members and international organizations.

Prince Sultan bin Saad, Saudi ambassador to Kuwait; Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Saudi undersecretary of multilateral international affairs; Mohammed Al-Yahya, an adviser to Prince Faisal; Walid Al-Samaeel, the director-general of Prince Faisal’s office; and Anas Al-Wassidi, the director of the GCC department in the Foreign Ministry, attended the meeting.

Prince Faisal will attend on Sunday the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council in Kuwait City. The session will include leaders and top officials from GCC countries, including Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain.

Earlier on Thursday, Prince Faisal was received at Kuwait International Airport by his Kuwaiti counterpart; Prince Sultan; and the secretary general of the GCC, Jasem Al-Budaiwi.