Extremotolerant rock inhabiting black fungi from Italian monumental sites

Researchers identified eight new species of extremotolerant black fungi from Italian monumental sites, including Vatican City and Cagliari. These include Lithophila guttulata, Knufia marmoricola, K. vaticanii, K. karalitana, K. mediterranea, Exophiala bonariae, Saxophila tyrrhenica, Vermiconia calcicola, and Devriesia sardiniae. The study employed multilocus phylogeny and morphological data to classify these fungi, which thrive in harsh conditions on rock surfaces, posing potential threats to historical monuments. Sampling was conducted across selected sites, including the Vatican Museum and St Peter's colonnade, revealing their ecological significance and destructive potential.

Isola, D., Zucconi, L., Onofri, S., Caneva, G., de Hoog, G. S., & Selbmann, L. (2015). Extremotolerant rock inhabiting black fungi from Italian monumental sites. Fungal Diversity, 76(1), 75–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-015-0342-9