The surfaces of historical stone monuments are visibly covered with a layer of colonizing microorganisms and their degradation products. In this study, a metadata analysis was conducted using the microbial sequencing data available from NCBI database to determine the diversity, biodeterioration potential and functionality of the stone microbiome on important world cultural heritage sites under four different climatic conditions. The retrieved stone microbial community composition in these metagenomes shows a clear association between climate types of the historical monuments and the diversity and taxonomic composition of the stone microbiomes. Shannon diversity values showed that microbial communities on stone monuments exposed to dry climate were more diverse than those under humid ones. In particular, functions associated with photosynthesis and UV resistance were identified from geographical locations under different climate types. The distribution of key microbial determinants responsible for stone deterioration was linked to survival under extreme environmental conditions and biochemical capabilities and reactions. Among them, biochemical reactions of the microbial nitrogen and sulfur cycles were most predominant. These stone-dwelling microbiomes on historical stone monuments were highly diverse and self-sustaining driven by energy metabolism and biomass accumulation. And metabolic products of the internal geomicrobiological nitrogen cycling on these ancient monuments play a unique role in the biodeterioration of stone monuments. These results highlight the significance of identifying the essential microbial biochemical reactions to advance the understanding of stone biodeterioration for protection management.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114041 | DOI Listing |
J Med Biogr
January 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Marcello Malpighi, renowned as the founder of microscopic anatomy, faced many challenges throughout his life. Among these was his frail health, which deteriorated in his early 40s when he developed kidney stones. He struggled with arthritic pain and heart palpitations, which, along with his renal condition, gradually became worse as he got older.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina, 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address:
Pink biofilm formation on stone monuments and mural paintings poses serious harm to cultural heritage preservation. Pink biofilms are globally widespread and recalcitrant to eradication, often causing recurrences after restoration. Yet, the ecological drivers of pink biofilm formation and the metabolic functions sustaining the growth of pigment-producing biodeteriogens remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
December 2024
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093.
Microorganisms
November 2024
Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
We studied the microbial diversity colonizing limestone rock pools at a Neolithic Monument (Arbor Low, Derbyshire, England). Five pools were analyzed: four located at the megaliths of the stone circle and one pool placed at the megalith at the Gib Hill burial mound 300 m distant. Samples were taken from rock pool walls and sediments, and investigated through molecular metabarcoding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrob Ecol
November 2024
CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, Galicia, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Recent studies are showing that some lights suitable for illuminating the urban fabric (i.e. that do not include the red, green and blue sets of primary colours) may halt biological colonisation on monuments, mainly that caused by phototrophic subaerial biofilms (SABs), which may exacerbate the biodeterioration of substrates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!