Phenotypic and Molecular Biological Characterization of Cyanobacteria from Marble Surfaces of Treated and Untreated Sites of Propylaea (Acropolis, Athens)

Abstract

Cyanobacteria cause aesthetic damage to marble surfaces and in particular their endolithic mode of life contributes to the breakdown of rock crystalline structures. The aim of this work was to estimate, with both phenotypical and molecular approach, the composition of cyanobacterial communities on the Propylaea marbles of the Acropolis Monuments. The two selected sampling sites were treated and untreated with a commercial biocide in order to estimate its effect on the cyanobacterial diversity. Our study revealed that in both sampling sites were present 13 phenotypes and 10 phylotypes and that the cyanobacterial taxa were considerably lower in the treated site.