* High-salinity environments: These include hypersaline lakes and lagoons, where the high salt concentration makes it difficult for other organisms to thrive. Examples include:
* Shark Bay, Western Australia
* Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Western Australia
* The Bahamas
* Lagoa Vermelha, Brazil
* Lagoa Salgada, Brazil
* Other extreme environments: Stromatolites can also form in other extreme environments, such as:
* Hot springs: High temperatures and mineral content can limit competition.
* High-alkaline environments: Similar to high-salinity environments, high alkalinity can exclude many other organisms.
* High-UV environments: Some stromatolites have been found in areas with high levels of UV radiation, where other organisms struggle to survive.
It's important to note that these environments are often fragile and susceptible to disturbance from human activities, making the conservation of modern stromatolites a priority.
