The Role of Microorganisms in Pink Stone Discoloration: Insights from Batalha Monastery

Abstract

The colonization of historical buildings and monuments by fungi, algae, and bacteria is a common phenomenon. This often leads to deterioration processes that cause either visual or structural harm. The Batalha Monastery in Portugal, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, currently shows significant surface changes to the stone architectural elements within both the Founder’s Chapel and the church, including a widespread pink discoloration on the walls and columns. The main goal of this study was to analyze the biological colonization and assess the influence of bacterial communities on the biodeterioration of Ançã limestone, providing valuable insights to help conservators and restorers select the best preservation strategies for the monastery. The prokaryote population was characterized using both high-throughput DNA sequencing and culture-dependent methods and several orange-pink pigment-producing bacteria were identified, for example, Bacillus, Gordonia, Serratia and Methylobacterium, as well as Halalkalicoccus, an abundant archaeal genus. The pink discoloration observed could be due to biofilms created by bacteria that produce pigments, namely carotenoids. Biocolonization tests were performed using stone mock-ups, which were prepared and inoculated with the bacteria isolated in this study. These tests were designed to replicate the natural conditions of the monastery and monitor the colonization process to understand the discoloration phenomenon.