ST. CLAIR, LARRY L.1* and M.R.D. SEAWARD2. 1Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602; 2Department of Environmental Science, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK. - Lichen biodeterioration: progress and problems.
This symposium will examine the impact of lichens and other microflora
on natural and human-manipulated rock substrates. Decomposition of
rock is a natural phenomenon, with biological and non-biological
factors interacting in a complex fashion, the effects of one
accentuating the effects of the other, relentlessly breaking down
rocks, large and small, to form the mineral component of soil. The
process is inherently slow but constant. Biologically enhanced
degradation of prehistoric and historic rock structures is receiving
increasing attention from biologists, geologists, archaeologists, and
cultural conservators. Papers in this session will address several
aspects of this phenomenon from a variety of perspectives including
the role of lichens in the biodeterioration process, the effects of
other rock degrading microflora, changes in rock structure due to
biodeterioration, issues related to the control of microflora on
culturally significant substrates, and archaeological concerns
relative to biodeterioration.
Key words: Biodeterioration, Lichens