Lichen colonization of coastal churches in Galicia: biodeterioration implications

Lichen colonization of four granite churches situated in coastal areas in G alicia (NW Spain) were studied with the aim of understanding relationships among lichens, salts and biodeterioration. The results obtained here were c ompared with those from previous studies on lichen colonization of non-coas tal churches. As a result of the field survey undertaken in granite churche s, it can be concluded that there is a group of characteristic species on g ranite monuments whatever the environmental conditions are. Besides this gr oup of characteristic species. a large number of species were identified on each coastal church that brought some important data to the relationship b etween salts weathering and the protective action of lichens. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.