Chapter 6 - Territories of Rock-Inhabiting Fungi: Survival on and Alteration of Solid Air-Exposed Surfaces

Publication date: 2018Source: Methods in Microbiology, Volume 45Author(s): Nicole Knabe, Anna A. GorbushinaAbstractSubaerial biofilms that are omnipresent at the interface between all solid substrates and the atmosphere are composed of a unique and widespread group of ascomycetes called rock-inhabiting fungi or microcolonial fungi (MCF), typically in communities with other microorganisms. While subaerial biofilms in toto have important roles in mineral weathering and biodeterioration of materials, methodological approaches to subaerial biofilm communities are diverse and frequently focussed on MCF. Here, we review the historical development of the research methods applied in the field and consider perspectives to increase our understanding of the biofilm-induced changes of solid substrate surfaces.
Source: Methods in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research