DIVERSITY OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES ON NATURAL STONES APPLIED IN THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF TIANCIZHUANG CAMPUS, SUZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

Natural stones provide a favourable environment for microbial growth (Louati et al., 2020). The biodeterioration process is often influenced by lithological properties, including mineral composition and porosity, as well as environmental factors such as climate, temperature, humidity, pollutants, and microenvironmental conditions (Liu et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2020; Warscheid and Braams, 2000; Meng et al., 2023). As the first Christian university established in China, Tiancizhuang Campus of Soochow University is recognized as a nationally designated architectural heritage site, with significant historical and architectural value. However, detailed information regarding the materials used and their decay patterns—particularly natural stones—remains limited. This study identified the microbial communities on the surfaces of different stone architectural heritages at Tiancizhuang Campus, offering valuable insights for developing conservation approaches that balance efficiency with location’s characteristics and material specificity.