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Microbial bioerosion of bone – a review

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Current Developments in Bioerosion

Part of the book series: Erlangen Earth Conference Series ((ERLANGEN))

Abstract

Microbial alteration is an important pathway for bone degradation. Organisms involved in bioerosion of bone, mainly bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria, create different types of alteration. While fungi and cyanobacteria dissolve the bone matrix resulting in branching tunnels, bacteria create microscopical focal destructions with a complex morphology, reorganising the mineral rather than removing it. Different environmental and early post mortem circumstances characterise each type. Bacterial alteration occurs in the early post mortem interval, probably in the first decades after death. A strong link with putrefaction can be observed, indicating that early putrefactive organisms are important contributors to bacterial alteration of bone. Fungal and cyanobacterial alteration occurs when the environment is favourable, i.e., oxygen is present and bone still has sufficient nutrient value. Although microbial alteration causes loss of information in archaeological and palaeontological bone, the study of microbial bioerosion also represents a powerful tool for taphonomic reconstruction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit, Institute for Geo and Bioarchaeology, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Miranda M.E. Jans

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  1. Miranda M.E. Jans
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Inst. Paläontologie, Loewenichstr. 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany

    Max Wisshak

  2. Dept. Geosciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8072 Pocatello ID 83209-8072, USA

    Leif Tapanila

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Jans, M.M. (2008). Microbial bioerosion of bone – a review. In: Wisshak, M., Tapanila, L. (eds) Current Developments in Bioerosion. Erlangen Earth Conference Series. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77598-0_20

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