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Favero-Longo SE, Matteucci E, Voyron S, Iacomussi P, Ruggiero MG. Lithobiontic recolonization following cleaning and preservative treatments on the rock engravings of Valle Camonica, Italy: A 54-months monitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165885. [PMID: 37524193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Both the indirect control of microclimate conditions and the direct application of preservative products to contrast stone bioreceptivity may contribute to limit lithobiontic recolonization of cultural heritage surfaces after cleaning interventions. However, the priority deserved by these different preventive approaches has still been poorly evaluated, particularly in outdoor environments. This work dealt with the engraved sandstone surfaces of the National Park of Rock Engravings of Naquane (Italy, UNESCO WHS), widely colonized by lichens, mosses and a dark cyanobacterial biofilm, and thus requiring frequent cleaning interventions to preserve their legibility for visitors and scholars. In particular, post-cleaning recolonization by the different lithobionts was seasonally monitored along 54 months in different zones of an engraved outcrop, primarily differing in levels of shading, on parcels exposed to nine different conservative treatments. These included (or not) a pre-cleaning devitalization of lithobionts and the post-cleaning application of biocidal (benzalkonium chloride, plant essential oils, usnic acid) and other restoration products (nanocrystalline anatase, polysiloxane-based water repellent, ethyl-silicate-based consolidant). The combination of surface image analyses, fluorimetric and colorimetric measurements showed that mosses and the cyanobacterial biofilm rapidly recolonized all the parcels in the more shaded zone, irrespective of conservative treatments. In the other areas, recolonization significantly differed depending on the treatment. The post-cleaning application of biocides determined the best results through two vegetative seasons, but only nanocrystalline anatase and the polysiloxane-based water repellent maintained the surfaces lighter than uncleaned controls along the whole monitoring period. Recolonization primarily proceeded by the uncleaned surfaces surrounding the parcels and, at least in the examined case of lichens, did not show substantial shifts in community composition, although some nitrophytic species increased their frequency. In conclusion, the effectiveness of preservative treatments to prevent a rapid recolonization of heritage stone surfaces appeared subordinate to the presence of microenvironmental conditions less favourable to lithobionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Favero-Longo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Enrica Matteucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy; Fondazione Centro per la Conservazione e Restauro "La Venaria Reale", via XX settembre 18, 10078 Venaria Reale, TO, Italy
| | - Samuele Voyron
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Iacomussi
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Divisione Ottica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy
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Pinna D, Mazzotti V, Gualtieri S, Voyron S, Andreotti A, Favero-Longo SE. Damaging and protective interactions of lichens and biofilms on ceramic dolia and sculptures of the International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162607. [PMID: 36906030 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although ceramic objects are an important part of the worldwide cultural heritage, few investigations on the effects of lithobiontic growth on their outdoor conservation are available in the literature. Many aspects of the interaction between lithobionts and stones are still unknown or strongly debated, as in the case of equilibria between biodeterioration and bioprotection. This paper describes research on the colonization by lithobionts on outdoor ceramic Roman dolia and contemporary sculptures of the International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza (Italy). Accordingly, the study i) characterized the mineralogical composition and petrographic structure of the artworks, ii) performed porosimetric measurements, iii) identified lichen and microbial diversity, iv) elucidated the interaction of the lithobionts with the substrates. Moreover, v) the measurements of variability in stone surface hardness and in water absorption of colonized and uncolonized areas were collected to assess damaging and/or protective effects by the lithobionts. The investigation showed how the biological colonization depends on physical properties of the substrates as well on climatic conditions of environments in which the ceramic artworks are located. The results indicated that lichens Protoparmeliopsis muralis and Lecanora campestris may have a bioprotective effect on ceramics with high total porosity and pores with very small diameters, as they poorly penetrate the substrate, do not negatively affect surface hardness and are able to reduce the amount of absorbed water limiting the water ingress. By contrast, Verrucaria nigrescens, here widely found in association with rock-dwelling fungi, deeply penetrate terracotta causing substrate disaggregation, with negative consequences on surface hardness and water absorption. Accordingly, a careful evaluation of the negative and positive effects of lichens must be carried out before deciding their removal. Regarding biofilms, their barrier efficacy is related to their thickness and composition. Even if thin, they can impact negatively on substrates enhancing the water absorption in comparison to uncolonized parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pinna
- Chemistry Department, University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, via Guaccimanni 42, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Valentina Mazzotti
- Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza, Viale Baccarini 19, 48018 Faenza, RA, Italy.
| | - Sabrina Gualtieri
- Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, National Research Council, Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, RA, Italy.
| | - Samuele Voyron
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi (Life Sciences and Systems Biology), viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Alessia Andreotti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via Moruzzi 13, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Sergio Enrico Favero-Longo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi (Life Sciences and Systems Biology), viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy.
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García-Breijo FJ, Molins A, Reig-Armiñana J, Barreno E. The Tripartite Lichen Ricasolia virens: Involvement of Cyanobacteria and Bacteria in Its Morphogenesis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1517. [PMID: 37375019 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ricasolia virens is an epiphytic lichen-forming fungus mainly distributed in Western Europe and Macaronesia in well-structured forests with ecological continuity that lack eutrophication. It is considered to be threatened or extinct in many territories in Europe (IUCN). Despite its biological and ecological relevance, studies on this taxon are scarce. The thalli are tripartite, and the mycobiont has a simultaneous symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria and green microalgae, which represent interesting models to analyse the strategies and adaptations resulting from the interactions of lichen symbionts. The present study was designed to contribute to a better understanding of this taxon, which has shown a clear decline over the last century. The symbionts were identified by molecular analysis. The phycobiont is Symbiochloris reticulata, and the cyanobionts (Nostoc) are embedded in internal cephalodia. Light, transmission electron and low-temperature scanning microscopy techniques were used to investigate the thallus anatomy, ultrastructure of microalgae and ontogeny of pycnidia and cephalodia. The thalli are very similar to its closest relative, Ricasolia quercizans. The cellular ultrastructure of S. reticulata by TEM is provided. Non-photosynthetic bacteria located outside the upper cortex are introduced through migratory channels into the subcortical zone by the splitting of fungal hyphae. Cephalodia were very abundant, but never as external photosymbiodemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J García-Breijo
- Departamento de Ecosistemas Agroforestales, ETSIAMN, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 València, Spain
| | - Arantzazu Molins
- Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Botánica, Universitat de València, C/Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agroambientales y de Economía del Agua (INAGEA), Departamento de Biología, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Ctra. Valldemossa Km.7., 07122 Palma de Malllorca, Spain
| | - José Reig-Armiñana
- Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Botánica, Universitat de València, C/Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Eva Barreno
- Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Botánica, Universitat de València, C/Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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Martellos S, Conti M, Nimis PL. Aggregation of Italian Lichen Data in ITALIC 7.0. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:556. [PMID: 37233266 PMCID: PMC10219532 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The creation of a coordinated publishing and aggregation system of biodiversity data is a challenging task, which calls for the adoption of open data standards. ITALIC, the information system on Italian lichens, originated from the conversion of the first Italian checklist into a database. While the first version was "frozen", the present version is continuously updated and provides access to several other data sources and services, such as ecological indicator values, ecological notes and information, traits, images, digital identification keys, etc. The identification keys especially are an ongoing work that will lead to a complete national flora by 2026. Last year, new services were added, one for aligning lists of names with the national checklist, the other for aggregating occurrence data deriving from the digitization of 13 Italian herbaria, forming a total of ca. 88,000 records, which are distributed under a CC BY license and can be exported as CSV files in the Darwin Core format. An aggregator for lichen data will encourage the national community of lichenologists to produce and aggregate further data sets, and it will stimulate data reuse according to the paradigms of open science.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Conti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
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Water-energy relationships shape the phylogenetic diversity of terricolous lichen communities in Mediterranean mountains: Implications for conservation in a climate change scenario. FUNGAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
Rock art is a widespread cultural heritage, representing an immovable element of the material culture created on natural rocky supports. Paintings and petroglyphs can be found within caves and rock shelters or in open-air contexts and for that reason they are not isolated from the processes acting at the Earth surface. Consequently, rock art represents a sort of ecosystem because it is part of the complex and multidirectional interplay between the host rock, pigments, environmental parameters, and microbial communities. Such complexity results in several processes affecting rock art; some of them contribute to its destruction, others to its preservation. To understand the effects of such processes an interdisciplinary scientific approach is needed. In this contribution, we discuss the many processes acting at the rock interface—where rock art is present—and the multifaceted possibilities of scientific investigations—non-invasive or invasive—offered by the STEM disciplines. Finally, we suggest a sustainable approach to investigating rock art allowing to understand its production as well as its preservation and eventually suggest strategies to mitigate the risks threatening its stability.
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Nascimbene J, Gheza G, Hafellner J, Mayrhofer H, Muggia L, Obermayer W, Thor G, Nimis PL. Refining the picture: new records to the lichen biota of Italy. MycoKeys 2021; 82:97-137. [PMID: 34421323 PMCID: PMC8373855 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.82.69027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the analysis of both historical and recent collections, this paper reports an annotated list of taxa which are new to the lichen biota of Italy or of its administrative regions. Specimens were identified using a dissecting and a compound microscope; routine chemical spot tests and standardized thin-layer chromatography (TLC or HPTLC). The list includes 225 records of 153 taxa. Twenty taxa are new to Italy, the others are new to one or more administrative regions, with 15 second records and 5 third records for Italy. Some of the species belong to recently-described taxa, others are poorly known, sterile or ephemeral lichens which were largely overlooked in Italy. Several species are actually rare, either because of the rarity of their habitats (e.g. old-growth forests), or because in Italy they are at the margins of their bioclimatic distribution. The picture of the lichen biota of Italy has now new pixels, but its grain is still coarse. Further analysis of historical collections, increased efforts in the exploration of some areas, and the taxonomic revision of critical groups are still necessary to provide more complete distributional data for new biogeographic hypotheses, taxonomic and ecological research, and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juri Nascimbene
- BIOME Lab, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy University of Bologna Bologna Italy
| | - Gabriele Gheza
- BIOME Lab, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy University of Bologna Bologna Italy
| | - Josef Hafellner
- Division of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria University of Graz Graz Austria
| | - Helmut Mayrhofer
- Division of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria University of Graz Graz Austria
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Walter Obermayer
- Division of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria University of Graz Graz Austria
| | - Göran Thor
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Nimis
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
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