Lichen colonization of coastal churches in Galicia: biodeterioration implications

Lichen colonization of four granite churches situated in coastal areas in Galicia (NW Spain) were studied with the aim of understanding relationships among lichens, salts and biodeterioration. The results obtained here were compared with those from previous studies on lichen colonization of non-coastal churches. As a result of the field survey undertaken in granite churches, it can be concluded that there is a group of characteristic species on granite monuments whatever the environmental conditions are. Besides this group of characteristic species, a large number of species were identified on each coastal church that brought some important data to the relationship between salts weathering and the protective action of lichens.