Distribution of microorganisms on ancient wall paintings as related to associated faunal elements

Knowledge of the bioreceptivity of wall paintings to microbially induced de cay processes has increased considerably in the last Few years. Indoor wall paintings are widely recognised as a favourable environment for microbial biofilms in general and for microscopic fungi in particular. This environme nt also provides a suitable substrate for insects, spiders and other arthro podas. A combination of mycological and entomological studies of indoor wal l paintings demonstrates an important ecological correlation between fungi and arthropods in the developmental processes of this complex microbial com munity. The co-existence of microscopic fungi and arthropods on the surface of wall paintings suggests an ecological interaction bt tween them. Faunal impacts on the growth of biofilms due to grazing and propagule dispersal c annot be overlooked. Along with the above-mentioned perturbations, arthropo ds can directly damage the wall paintings bg bioabrasion during grazing on the biofilm, as well as by the production of dwelling cavities. In this pub lication, we present the ecological connections between the major microscop ic inhabitants of these important objects of cultural heritage. The additio nal role of arthropods as a remarkable source of organic substrate (e.g., c hitin, spidersilk and faecal pellets) available for many micromycetes is di scussed. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.