Dolostone bioreceptivity to fungal colonization

B. Cámara; A. de los Ríos; M. A. García del Cura; V. Galván; C. Ascaso

doi:10.3989/mc.2008.v58.i289-290.71

Authors

B. Cámara Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales (CSIC)
A. de los Ríos Instituto de Geologia Económica CSIC-UCM. Laboratorio de Petrología Aplicada. Unidad Asociada CSIC-UA
M. A. García del Cura Instituto de Geologia Económica CSIC-UCM. Laboratorio de Petrología Aplicada. Unidad Asociada CSIC-UA
V. Galván Facultad Patrimonio Cultural Universidad SEK
C. Ascaso Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales (CSIC)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2008.v58.i289-290.71

Keywords:

Bioreceptivity, Colonization strategies, Dolostone, Lithobiontic fungi, Stone textures

Abstract

In many historic monuments in which signs of biodeterioration have been frequently reported, dolostones were used as dimension stone for their construction. In an effort to assess the influence of the texture of dolostones on their potential bioreceptivity, we characterized microbial colonization strategies in dolostone samples of predictably different textural features by scanning electron microscopy in back scattered electron mode (SEM-BSE), low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM), transmission light microscopy (TLM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Fungi were the predominant microorganisms in the dolostones examined and their colonization showed three well defined stages with the final consequence of complete rock disaggregation. The results of this study indicate that porosity differences (mainly the extent and type) were particularly relevant for determining the presence and extent of each colonization stage. As a determinant of bioreceptivity, the porosity of dolostones will also condition the decay processes associated with this colonization. These findings highlight the fact that the intrinsic properties of dolostones, such as texture, need to be considered when selecting this type of stone for future construction projects.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

(1) Ascaso, C., García-del-Cura, M.A., De Los Ríos, A.: Microbial Biofilms on Carbonate Rocks from a Quarry and Monuments in Novelda (Alicante, Spain). In: Biodeterioration of Stone Surfaces, (eds. Clair, L.S., Seaward, M.), pp. 79-98, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, 2004.

(2) Vegas Salamanca, J.: El Cretácico en la Provincia de Segovia: Caracterización y degradación de rocas ornamentales y de cantería, Colección Becas de Investigación, Caja de Segovia (1998), pp. 54.

(3) Díez Herrero, A.: El empleo de las rocas y los minerales en la arquitectura románica de la provincia de Segovia. En: Enciclopedia del Románico de Castilla y León. Segovia. Vol. 1, pp. 203-235, Fundación Santa María la Real, Aguilar de Campoo, España, 2007.

(4) De Los Ríos, A., Galván, V., Ascaso, C.: In situ microscopical diagnosis of biodeterioration processes at the convent of Santa Cruz la Real, Segovia, Spain. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 54 (2004), pp. 113-120. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2004.03.020

(5) De Los Ríos, A., Ascaso, C.: Contributions of in situ microscopy to the current understanding of stone biodeterioration. Int. Microbiol 8 (2005), pp. 181-188.

(6) Golubic, S., Friedmann, I., Schneider, J.: The lithobiontic ecological niche, with special reference to microorganisms. J. Sediment. Petrol. 51 (1981), pp. 475-478.

(7) De Los Ríos, A., Wierzchos, J., Ascaso, C.: Microhabitats and Chemical Microenvironments under Saxicolous Lichens Growing on Granite. Microbial. Ecol. 43 (2002), pp. 181-188. doi:10.1007/s00248-001-1028-2

(8) Papida, S., Murphy, W., May, E.: Enhancement of physical weathering of building stones by microbial populations. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 46 (2000), pp. 305-317. doi:10.1016/S0964-8305(00)00102-5

(9) Gleeson, D.B., Clipson, N., Melville, K., Gadd, G.M., McDermott, F.P.: Characterization of Fungal Community Structure on Weathered Pegmatitic Granite. Microbial. Ecol. 50 (2005), pp. 1-9. doi:10.1007/s00248-005-0198-8

(10) Guillitte, O.: Bioreceptivity: a new concept for building ecology studies. Sci. Total Environ. 167 (1995), pp. 215-220. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04582-L

(11) Guillite, O. Dreesen, R.: Laboratory chamber studies and petrographical analysis as bioreceptivity assessment tools of building materials. Sci. Total Environ. 167 (1995), pp. 365-374. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04596-S

(12) Miller, A., Dionísio, A., Macedo, M.F.: Primary bioreceptivity: A comparative study of different Portuguese lithotypes. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 57 (2006), pp. 136-142. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2006.01.003

(13) Prieto, B., Silva, B.: Estimation of the potential bioreceptivity of granitic rocks from their intrinsic properties. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 56 (2005), pp. 197-252.

(14) Prieto, P., Silva, B., Aira, N., Álvarez, L.: Toward a definition of a bioreceptivity index for granitic rocks: Perception in the change in appearance of the rock. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 58 (2006), pp. 150-154. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2006.06.015

(15) Tucker, M.: Techniques in Sedimentology. p. 394, Blackwell Science Publishers, Oxford, 1988.

(16) Tiab, D., Donaldson, E.C.: Petrophysics: theory and practice of measuring reservoir rock and fluid transport properties. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, 2004.

(17) Wierzchos, J., Ascaso, C.: Application of back-scattered electron imaging to the study of the lichen-rock interface. Journal of Microscop. 175 (1994), pp. 54-59.

(18) De Los Ríos, A., Ascaso, C., Wierzchos, J.: Study of lichens with different state of hydration by the combination of low temperature scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopies. Int. Microbiol. 2 (1999), pp. 251-257.

(19) Warscheid, Th., Braams, J.: Biodeterioration of stone: a review. Int. J. Biodet. Biodegr. 46 (2000), pp. 343-368. doi:10.1016/S0964-8305(00)00109-8

(20) Warscheid, Th., Becker, Th., Braams, J., Brüggerhoff, S., Gehrmann, C., Krumbein, W.E., Petersen, K.: Studies on the temporal development of microbial infection of different types of sedimentary rocks and its effect on the alteration of the physico-chemical propierties in building material. In: Conservation of Stone and Other Materials Vol. I (ed. Thiel, M.-J.), pp. 303-310, E & FN, London, 1993.

(21) De los Ríos, A., Grube, M., Sancho, L., G., Ascaso, C.: Ultrastructural and genetic characteristics of endolithic cyanobacterial biofilms colonizing Antarctic granite rocks. FEMS Microbial Ecol. 59 (2007), pp. 386-395. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2006.00256.x

(22) Blackhurst R., Genge M.J., Kearsley A.T., Grady M.M.: Cryptoendolithic alteration of Antarctic sandstones: pioners or opportunists? J. Geophys. Res. 110 (2005), E12S24, doi: 10. 1029/2005JE002463.

(23) Benavente D., García-del-Cura, M.A., Fort, R., Ordóñez, S.: Durability estimation of porous building stones from pore structure and strength. Eng. Geol. 74 (2004), pp. 113-127. doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.03.005

(24) Ordoñez, S., Fort, R., García-del-Cura, M.A.: Pore size distribution in durability evaluation of porous limestones: Bateig Stone (Alicante, Spain). Quarternary. J. Eng. Geol. 30 (1997), pp. 221-230.

(25) Thomachot, C., Matsuoka, N.: Dilation of building materials submitted to frost action. In: Buildings Stone Decay: From Diagnosis to Conservation (eds. Prikryl, R., Smith, B.J.) 271, pp. 167-177, Geological Society, London, 2007.

(26) García-del-Cura, M.A., Benavente, D., Bernabéu, A., Fort, R., La Iglesia, A., Ordóñez, S.: Microcrystalline limestone used as building stone: The Case of Gris Pulpis Stone. Mater. Construcc. 55 (2005), pp. 5-23.

(27) Sterflinger, K.: Fungi as Geologic Agents. Geomicrobiol. J.17 (2000), pp. 97-124. doi:10.1080/01490450050023791

(28) Ascaso, C., Wierzchos, J., Souza-Egipsy, V., De Los Ríos, A., Rodrigues, J.D.: In situ evaluation of the biodeteriorating action of microorganisms and the effects of biocides on carbonate rock of the Jeronimos Monastery (Lisbon). Int. Biodet. Biodegr. 49 (2002), pp. 1-12. doi:10.1016/S0964-8305(01)00097-X