Synonyms
Biodeterioration; Organic weathering; Weathering by organisms
Definition
Mineralogical components of rocks are altered and modified when exposed to Earth surface conditions in response to different atmospheric agents and insolation that may result in the disaggregation (physical weathering) or the decomposition (chemical weathering) of the rock. When these processes are assisted by biologic action they are called biological weathering.
Organisms may alter rock by both mechanical and chemical actions. The penetrating and expanding pressure of plant roots in cracks, fractures, pores and other discontinuities may cause the rupture and disaggregation of the rock, if there are favorable conditions and the strength of the rock is lower than that applied by the roots (Fig. 1). Penetration and expansion of lichen thalli has a similar behavior to that of the roots since some thalli may expand up to 3900 per cent due to their high content of gelatine (Bland and Rolls 1998).
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References
Bland W, Rolls D (1998) Weathering: an introduction to the scientific principles. Arnold, London, 271 p
Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (2009) Plant biology for cultural heritage: biodeterioration and conservation. Getty Publications, Los Angeles, 400 p
Griffin PS, Indictor N, Koestler RJ (1991) The biodeterioration of stone: a review of deterioration mechanisms, conservation, case histories and treatment. Int Biodeterior 28:187–207
Hueck HJ (2001) The biodeterioration of materials – an appraisal. Int Biodeter Biodegr 48:5–11
Yatsu E (1988) Weathering by organisms. In: The nature of weathering: an introduction. Tokyo, Sozosha, pp 285–396
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de Oliveira Frascá, M.H.B., Del Lama, E.A. (2018). Biological Weathering. In: Bobrowsky, P.T., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_29
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