ABSTRACT

This chapter presents an overview on the principal approaches used in microbial ecology and discusses their applicability to study biodeterioration of works of art. Single-Strand-Conformation-Polymorphism was proposed as a technique to study microbial community of Roman Catacombs. The study of biodeterioration of works of art and of microbial community colonizing monuments can be considered a peculiar application in which valuable substrates and microorganisms encounter each other, and in which similar approaches used in microbial ecology can be applied. Due to the fact that colonization of a given substrate is the resultant of different factors that act together, a variety of micro-habitats and micro-niches can be evidenced and the biodiversity of biodeteriorating microorganisms can vary accordingly. The biodiversity of a habitat is defined by the variety and number of species present. The exclusive presence of one single species is very rare in natural habitats, including building and objects surfaces.