New insights into the growth and diversity of subaerial biofilms colonizing granite-built heritage exposed to UV-A or UV-B radiation plus red LED light

See http://t.ly/hfIy — The combined effects of UV-A or UV-B radiation and red LED light on subaerial biofilm formation were studied. Biofilms were generated using cultures isolated from natural phototrophic biofilms growing on the granite facades of the Palace of Xelmírez and the Monastery of San Martiño Pinario, both historic buildings in Santiago de Compostela (NW Spain). Red LED and UV-A or UV-B radiation were tested separately and together in the same experiment, along with white LED (positive control) and no LED or UV lights (i.e. darkness, negative control). The initial target biofilms had different ratios of green algae: cyanobacteria…