Phylogeny and ecology of fungi on monuments in Vienna

The results of the first part of the project clearly demonstrate that the surfaces of the famous "Ringstrassenbauten" in Vienna are densly inhabited by a large diversity of different fungal species which -due to their melanin production - contribute to the blackening and thus esthetical spoiling of the monuments. In the second part of the project the fungal genera that were isolated from the Vienna monuments will be tested in view of their rock destructive potential with special focus on acid excretion. Taking into account that different factors as e.g. the nitrogen and carbon source influence the type and amount of acids produced by fungi the acid excretion will be analyzed based on a variety of carbon and nitrogen sources. Further, the ability of the fungi to degrade hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic substances and other substrates, which are an important part of organic pollution in the city, will be tested in the laboratory. Moreover, the effect of cleaning and the efficiancy of a biocide treatment will be tested at the facade of the Museum of Natural History and at the facade of the Karthause Mauerbach. This will be done during the progressing restauration of the facades in collaboration with the Bundesdenkmalamt Vienna. The biodiversity studies comparing rural and urban environments will be continued because our first results have shown that the rock substratum is a promising source for new and interesting fungal species. It is the aim of the project to complete the knowledge about the biodiversity of the epi-and endolithic fungi with ecophysiological data that are important in order to get a more comprehensive picture of the fungal impact on monument weathering.