Diversity of phototrophic components in biofilms from Piperno historical stoneworks |
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Authors: | P Cennamo P Caputo C Marzano A Z Miller C Saiz-Jimenez A Moretti |
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Institution: | 1. Facoltà di Lettere, Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa di Napoli, Via Santa Caterina da Siena 37, 80135Naples, Italy;2. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Foria 223, 80139Naples, Italy;3. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla, IRNAS-CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, 41012Sevilla, Spain |
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Abstract: | We investigated phototrophic microorganisms dwelling on stone walls made of Piperno, a volcanic rock frequently used as construction material in historical buildings in Naples, Italy. Biofilms from three historical buildings in the center of the city and from a natural Piperno quarry located in a suburban area were examined. Light and electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques allowed the identification of 17 species belonging to Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Chlorophyta. Cyanobacteria were the dominant components in all the biofilms. No significant differences in microbial composition were observed for biofilms collected in autumn and spring, with minor exceptions for the quarry samples, where environmental conditions were relatively more stable than in the city. Results are discussed in comparison with information on microbial communities dwelling on other kinds of substrata commonly used in historical buildings in the Neapolitan area. |
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Keywords: | Algae biodeterioration biofilm cultural heritage cyanobacteria Piperno |
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