Bioreceptivity of building stones: A review

In 1995, Guillitte defined bioreceptivity, a new term in ecology, as the ability of a material to be colonized by living organisms. Information about the bioreceptivity of stone is of great importance since it will help us to understand the material properties which influence the development of biological colonization in the built environment, and will also provide useful information as regards selecting stones for the conservation of heritage monuments and construction of new buildings. Studies of the bioreceptivity of stone materials are reviewed here with the aim of providing a clear set of conclusions on the topic. Definitions of bioreceptivity are given, stone bioreceptivity experiments are described, and finally the stone properties related to bioreceptivity are discussed. We suggest that a standardized laboratory protocol for evaluating stone bioreceptivity and definition of a stone bioreceptivity index are required to enable creation of a database on the primary bioreceptivity of stone materials.

► Bioreceptivity of stone is reviewed and a set of conclusions on the topic is provided;
► carbonate rocks are highly receptive to colonization by microorganisms;
► porous stones with rough surfaces are more bioreceptive to biological colonization;
► standardized laboratory protocol to establish a bioreceptivity index is needed;
► creation of a database on primary bioreceptivity of stone is suggested.