| physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of microbial mats (kopara) in the south pacific atolls of french polynesia. | microbial mats that develop in shallow brackish and hyposaline ponds in the rims of two french polynesian atolls (rangiroa and tetiaroa) were intensively investigated during the past three years. comparative assessment of these mats (called kopara in polynesian language) showed remarkable similarities in their composition and structure. due to the lack of iron, the color of the cyanobacterial pigments produced remained visible through the entire depth of the mats (20-40 cm depth), with alternate ... | 2001 | 11766060 |