Lichens as Agents of Biodeterioration

Abstract

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The influence of structural organization of epilithic and endolithic lichens on limestone weathering

“…Lichens have variously been claimed to be biodeteriorative or bioprotective on rocks depending on lithologies and several other factors (Seaward, 2015;Salvadori and Casanova Municchia, 2016). On limestone, the hyphal penetration and surface biomineralization by endolithic Verrucaria rubrocincta has even been explained as simultaneous counter-balancing processes yielding deterioration and protection, respectively (Bungartz and Garvie, 2004).…”

“…Lichen deterioration of stone in cultural heritage has also been widely characterized (reviewed by St. Clair and Seaward, 2004;Gazzano et al, 2009;Seaward, 2015), although evidence of protective effects has also been unveiled (McIlroy de la Rosa et al, 2012, with references therein). Biogeophysical and biogeochemical processes at the rock surface have been ascribed to the attachment and penetration of epilithic and endolithic lichens, and their release of primary and secondary metabolites with acidic and chelating functions, respectively (Adamo and Violante, 2000;Chen et al, 2000;Favero-Longo et al, 2011;Salvadori and Casanova Municchia, 2016).…”

On the dual nature of lichen‐induced rock surface weathering in contrasting micro‐environments

“…The last three decades have been extremely rich in contributions to the knowledge of the various aspects of lichen‐induced rock weathering, as seen by the number of reviews available (Adamo and Violante , Chen et al. , St. Clair and Seaward , Seaward ). Alternative approaches to this subject have been focusing on: (1) identifying individual species and species assemblages colonizing rock surfaces and making assumptions on their impact based on previous knowledge about their ecological requirements (e.g., Carballal et al.…”

“…The last three decades have been extremely rich in contributions to the knowledge of the various aspects of lichen-induced rock weathering, as seen by the number of reviews available (Adamo and Violante 2000, Chen et al 2000, St. Clair and Seaward 2004, Seaward 2015. Alternative approaches to this subject have been focusing on: (1) identifying individual species and species assemblages colonizing rock surfaces and making assumptions on their impact based on previous knowledge about their ecological requirements (e.g., Carballal et al 2001); (2) determining the climatic constraints and habitat preferences of colonizing species based on field observations (e.g., Cutler 2012, Steinbauer et al 2013) or controlled experiments (Carter and Viles 2003, Kidron and Temina 2010, Adamson et al 2013) thus contributing to the knowledge of environmental factors that are also important for rock conservation; (3) detecting geophysical and geochemical changes at the lichen-rock interface associated with the growth of individual species, including the occurrence of organic and mineral by-products of lichen activity (e.g., Favero-Longo et al 2005, Arocena et al 2007); (4) addressing the influence of human activities on such changes and (5) developing methods to quantify the weathering rates induced by individual species or by a limited set of the most representative ones on the surface of interest (e.g., Aghamiri and Schwartzman Europe and only sporadically in other regions of the globe.…”

Biodeterioration Patterns and Their Interpretation for Potential Applications to Stone Conservation: A Hypothesis from Allelopathic Inhibitory Effects of Lichens on the Caestia Pyramid (Rome)

“…Stone monuments are affected in different ways by organisms and microorganisms, whose metabolic activity and growth can impact them aesthetically, chemically and/or physically, determining biodeterioration phenomena [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Sometimes their colonisation can also exert a positive bioprotective action, as shown for some monuments all over the world [7][8][9].…”