Identification of keystone taxa shaping biocrust formation and biodeterioration of limestone monuments in the Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty

Researchers have identified keystone microbial taxa that drive the formation of black biocrusts and biodeterioration on limestone monuments at the 14th-century Xiaoling Tomb. The study revealed that Cyanobacteria (Scytonema spp.) and Chloroflexi play crucial roles in photosynthesis-driven biocrust development, while fungi (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Nitrososphaerota) contribute to limestone degradation through chemolithoautotrophic processes. Physicochemical analyses and microbial network modeling pinpointed 12 keystone taxa—including Spirosomaceae spp., Setophaeosphaeria, and Plectosphaerella—as primary agents of biodeterioration. These findings highlight the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate microbial damage during biocrust formation.

Wang, W., Huang, X., Wu, F., & Liu, X. (2026). Identification of keystone taxa shaping biocrust formation and biodeterioration of limestone monuments in the Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty. Environmental Microbiome, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-026-00912-9