RT Journal Article
T1 Fungal community dynamics on limestone at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Mexico driven by protective treatments
A1 Rosa García, Susana de la
A1 Sierra Fernández, Aranzazu
A1 Garcia Solis, Clara
A1 Soberanes García, Neftalí
A1 Quintana, Patricia
A1 Gómez Cornelio, Sergio
A1 Fort González, Rafael
AB Microorganisms naturally colonize rock-based materials in outdoor environments, thereby contributing to their degradation. Fungi, especially in tropical environments with abundant water and favorable temperatures, play a significant role in biodegradation. However, many aspects of the microorganism-stone interaction, including fungal colonization dynamics and the impact of treatment applications, remain unclear. This study conducted a four-year in-situ evaluation of fungal community dynamics on limestone surfaces in the Temple of the Warriors at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Mexico, focusing on cleaning and treatment using nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs included zinc oxide (ZnO) and CaZn2(OH)6·2H2O (CZ)-based NPs synthesized via sol-gel (CZ-SG) and mechanochemical methods (CZ-MC), as well as CZ/Ca(OH)2-based products (CZ:Ca-SG). The microbial colonization cover was assessed using colorimetric measurements, and the surface was sampled for fungal community isolation and identification. The results demonstrated significant impacts of cleaning and nanomaterial applications on cultivable fungal communities (melanized filamentous, hyaline, and microcolonial fungi), altering composition, dynamics, and stone surface coloration. In particular, ZnO NPs caused 50 % decline in fungal species and individuals, whereas CZ:Ca-SG NPs displaced most species, indicating effective inhibition of the cultivable fungal community. Microcolonial fungi (MCF), known for their tolerance to withstand harsh environmental conditions, were the only fungal group found in the CZ:Ca-SG treatment. In contrast, CZ-SG and CZ-MC increased the abundance of melanized species, resulting in darkening and reduced color intensity. This study highlights the importance of microcolonial fungi that are tolerant to cleaning and coating procedures in the preservation of stone cultural heritage. These findings enhance our understanding of fungal colonization dynamics following treatment and provide valuable insights into the challenges associated with preserving stone materials in tropical environments.
PB Elsevier
SN 0048-9697
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93882
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93882
LA eng
NO De La Rosa-García, Susana, et al. «Fungal Community Dynamics on Limestone at the Chichén Itzá Archaeological Site in Mexico Driven by Protective Treatments». Science of The Total Environment, vol. 906, enero de 2024, p. 167563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167563.
NO European Commission
NO Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (México)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 16 abr 2025