Biofilm colonization of stone materials from an Australian outdoor sculpture: importance of geometry and exposure

Cattò, C., Mu, A., Moreau, J. W. , Wang, N., Cappitelli, F. and Strugnell, R. (2023) Biofilm colonization of stone materials from an Australian outdoor sculpture: importance of geometry and exposure. Journal of Environmental Management, 339, 117948. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117948) (PMID:37080094)

Abstract

The safeguarding of Australian outdoor stone heritage is currently limited by a lack of information concerning mechanisms responsible for the degradation of the built heritage. In this study, the bacterial community colonizing the stone surface of an outdoor sculpture located at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Melbourne was analysed, providing an overview of the patterns of microbial composition associated with stone in an anthropogenic context. Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing together with confocal laser microscope investigations highlighted the bacterial community was composed of both phototrophic and chemotrophic microorganisms characteristic of stone and soil, and typical of arid, salty and urban environments. Cardinal exposure, position and surface geometry were the most important factors in determining the structure of the microbial community. The North-West exposed areas on the top of the sculpture with high light exposure gave back the highest number of sequences and were dominated by Cyanobacteria. The South and West facing in middle and lower parts of the sculpture received significantly lower levels of radiation and were dominated by Actinobacteria. Proteobacteria were observed as widespread on the sculpture. This pioneer research provided an in-depth investigation of the microbial community structure on a deteriorated artistic stone in the Australian continent and provides information for the identification of deterioration-associated microorganisms and/or bacteria beneficial for stone preservation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by the Endeavour Research Fellowship Programme 2016, sponsored by the Australian Government, Department of Education, fellowship number 5560_2016.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Moreau, Dr John

Creator Roles

Moreau, J. W.: Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Cattò, C., Mu, A., Moreau, J. W., Wang, N., Cappitelli, F., and Strugnell, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Management
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-4797
• ISSN (Online): 1095-8630
• Published Online: 18 April 2023