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Diversity and Significance of Lithobiotic Communities at the Tomskaya Pisanitsa Rock Art Site

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Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract

The processes of biodeterioration of the unique Tomskaya Pisanitsa monument of rock art in Western Siberia have been studied by a complex of biological and mineralogical methods. The species composition of the lithobiotic community (bacteria, fungi, and lichens) is identified using a complex of cultural, morphological, and molecular genetic methods. It is shown that the destruction of the monument is a result of interrelated physical, chemical, and biological processes, accompanied by a change in the properties of the rock and its biological colonization. The structure of microbial communities depends on the local environment and successional processes. The development of biofilms with the dominance of cyanobacteria is observed on the rock zones of increased moisture and the formation of carbonate crusts. The problems of adaptation of the lithobiotic microorganisms to existence at the Tomskaya Pisanitsa rock art monument, as well as their role in the processes of oxalate and carbonate biomineralization, are discussed. The results point to the danger of deterioration of Tomskaya Pisanitsa monument and indicate the need to find new effective ways to protect it, taking into account the accumulated scientific data.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation (project no. 19-17-00141 “Modern Mineral Formation with the Participation of Microorganisms”). The studies were carried out using the equipment of the X-ray Diffraction Research Methods and Microscopy and Microanalysis resource centers at St. Petersburg State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Petersburg State University, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia

    D. Yu. Vlasov, M. S. Zelenskaya, A. R. Izatulina, O. A. Rodina, I. S. Stepanchikova, E. I. Polyanskaya & O. V. Frank-Kamenetskaya

  2. St. Petersburg Institute of Restoration and Construction, 190020, St. Petersburg, Russia

    S. B. Schigorets

  3. Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    D. Yu. Vlasov, K. V. Sazanova & I. S. Stepanchikova

  4. Avronin Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institut, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209, Apatity, Russia

    O. A. Rodina & D. A. Davydov

  5. Archive, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Branch, 196084, St. Petersburg, Russia

    K. V. Sazanova & A. D. Vlasov

  6. Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117292, Moscow, Russia

    E. A. Miklashevich

  7. Kuzbass Tomskaya Pisanitsa Museum-Reserve, 650000, Kemerovo, Russia

    E. A. Miklashevich

  8. Beagle LTD Company, 192289, St. Petersburg, Russia

    O. A. Pavlova

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  1. D. Yu. Vlasov
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  2. M. S. Zelenskaya
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  3. K. V. Sazanova
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  4. S. B. Schigorets
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  5. A. R. Izatulina
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  6. O. A. Rodina
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  7. I. S. Stepanchikova
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  8. A. D. Vlasov
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  9. E. I. Polyanskaya
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  10. D. A. Davydov
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  11. E. A. Miklashevich
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  12. O. A. Pavlova
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  13. O. V. Frank-Kamenetskaya
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Correspondence to D. Yu. Vlasov.

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Translated by N. Ruban

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Vlasov, D.Y., Zelenskaya, M.S., Sazanova, K.V. et al. Diversity and Significance of Lithobiotic Communities at the Tomskaya Pisanitsa Rock Art Site. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 16, 173–188 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425523020130

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