Diversity and Composition of Culturable Microorganisms and Their Biodeterioration Potentials in the Sandstone of Beishiku Temple, China.

Microbial colonization on stone monuments leads to subsequent biodeterioration; determining the microbe diversity, compositions, and metabolic capacities is essential for understanding biodeterioration mechanisms and undertaking heritage management. Here, samples of epilithic biofilm and naturally weathered and exfoliated sandstone particles from different locations at the Beishiku Temple were collected to investigate bacterial and fungal community diversity and structure using a culture-based method. The biodeterioration potential of isolated fungal strains was analyzed in terms of pigmentation, calcite dissolution, organic acids, biomineralization ability, and biocide susceptibility.

Community assembly, potential functions and interactions between fungi and microalgae associated with biodeterioration of sandstone at the Beishiku Temple in Northwest China.

Fungi, cyanobacteria and algae are specific microbial groups associated with the deterioration and safety of stone monuments. In this study, high-throughput sequencing analysis was used to investigate the diversity, distributions, ecological functions, and interaction patterns of both the fungal and microalgal (including cyanobacteria and algae) communities on sandstone in the Beishiku Temple, located on the ancient Silk Road. The results showed that the core phyla of fungi were affiliated with unclassified Lecanoromycetes, Engyodontium, Knufia, Epicoccum, Endocarpon, and Cladosporium of Ascomycota whereas the phyla of microalgae were dominated by prokaryotic Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic Chlorophyta.