**6. Conclusions**

The methods and techniques for assessing biofilm characteristic to historical monuments are difficult to standardize because of differences that may interfere (local climate, natural or artificial microclimate, microflora diversity composition, microbial pigment appearance, and the presence of rare or unknown species) and change the results between samples.

Among the easiest to apply and less expensive methods, but with a high degree of relevance, are the microscopy techniques. From the classic optical to the specialized microscope with fluorescence microscopy, to the most advanced microscopy (SEM or SEM-BSE, TEM), all of these have increased the degree of enlargement and the identification of structural details, respectively.

The discovery of morphological types and interactions between microorganisms (symbiosis, attachment, and complexity of matrix synthesis) was a feature of superior electron microscopy analysis systems and contributed to increasing the level of understanding of the ecology of microbiota systems.

On the analyzed Fresco area, Matia Loggia as a case study, in situ techniques applied for biodegradation assessment reveal an intense biological activity on the analyzed lithic systems. Following microscopic analyses, the extemporaneous samples highlighted the colonization of the analyzed surfaces with bacterial and fungal hyphae.

The intense bacterial activity was noted in all the samples taken from the points located at a distance of 1 m from the base of the walls by the in situ technique. The presence of fungus has been noted in interference areas between different types of substrates.

## **Acknowledgements**

This study was supported by the grant PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0476, no.51PCCDI/2018, from UEFISCDI-MEN.

#### **Conflict of interest**

None of the authors have any competing interests in the manuscript.

#### **Contributions**

Verginica Schröder, Daniela Carutiu Turcanu, Adina Honcea, and Rodica-Mariana Ion equally designed and performed the research. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

**91**

**Author details**

Romania

Romania

Verginica Schröder1

Constanta, Romania

Bucharest, Romania

and Rodica-Mariana Ion4,5

provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

\*, Daniela Turcanu Carutiu2

1 Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ovidius University, Constanta,

2 Faculty of Arts, Center of Artworks Expertise by Advanced Instrumental Methods (CEOAMIA), Institute of Science, Culture and Spirituality, Ovidius University,

3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Ovidius University, Constanta,

4 ICECHIM, Group of Evaluation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage,

\*Address all correspondence to: virgischroder@yahoo.com

5 Materials Engineering Department, Valahia University, Targoviste, Romania

, Adina Honcea<sup>3</sup>

*Microscopical Methods for the In Situ Investigation of Biodegradation on Cultural Heritage*

The authors express many thanks to PhD Sofia Teodorescu, PhD Ioana-Daniela Dulama, and PhD Alin Ioan Bucurica from Valahia University, ICSTM, for OM and

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80684*

SEM-EDS, measurements.

**Thanks**

*Microscopical Methods for the In Situ Investigation of Biodegradation on Cultural Heritage DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80684*
