BIODETERIORATION
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2018/2019
- Teacher
- MARCO PEZZI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/07
Training objectives
- The course provides scientific and technical instruments suitable to deal with problems caused by biodeteriorating agents damaging inorganic and organic materials composing artifacts of historical and artistic relevance. The students will acquire knowledge about the complex relationships among organisms and biocoenosis which deteriorate cultural heritage, and about related monitoring activities and correct managing practices. At the end of the course, the student should be able to identify the main biodeteriorating agents belonging to different systematic groups and responsible for damages not only to artworks of historical and artistic relevance, but also to ethno-anthropologic objects belonging to museums or private collections. The identification of biodeteriorating agents should be based on aesthetic alterations and on chemical and structural transformations of the materials. The students should also acquire knowledge about control of abiotic parameters able to reduce biodegradation and become able to apply correct management practices, with the purpose to reduce damages by biodeteriorating agents and maintain a high standard of conservation along time.
Prerequisites
- The course on Biodeterioration does not require special prerequisites and/or previous courses, but only knowledge of basic biology and ecology.
Course programme
- The course on Biodeterioration is divided in four parts.
- After a general introduction of biodeterioration, the first part of the course will deal with the environment and the chemical-physical mechanisms involved in biodeterioration, and on its morphological aspects.
- The second part of the course will examine in detail the organisms responsible for biodeterioration: bacteria, algae, fungi, lichens (including references about stone materials damaged by these organisms), lower and higher plants, mollusks, arthropods (crustaceans and insects), birds (pigeons, starlings, seagulls and other species), rodents (rats, mice and other species).
- The third part of the course shall describe the characteristics of inorganic and organic materials composing monuments, archaeological findings, artworks and object related to cultural heritage, in relation to organisms responsible for biodeterioration and to control and management of these species. Among the materials examined, there will be glass, metal, wood, paper (volumes, books and archive documents), textiles from plants (cotton, flax, hemp and others), textiles from animals (wool and silk), parchment, leather and composite materials (photographic images and paintings).
- The last part of the course will deal with methods of study and analyses of biodeterioration by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cell cultures and biomolecular techniques. During this part of the course, it will be possible to perform direct observations of biodeteriorating agents and of damaged materials, but also to observe and practice some microscopy techniques. Didactic methods
- The course will involve lectures with audio and video connections for non-resident students and, in the last part of the course, direct observations of biodeteriorating agents and microscopy techniques.
Learning assessment procedures
- A test will be given at the end of the course to verify whether the objectives have been reached by the students. The test will be a Power Point presentation followed by an oral or a written examination. The student may choose between the oral and the written examination.
The Power Point presentation (in Italian) will be based on a scientific paper published in English and chosen by the student according to the course program. A maximum of 4 points will be assigned to the Power Point presentation.
The oral examination will be composed of six questions, with a maximum of 4.5 points assigned to each answer. The maximum score that can be obtained in the test (the Power Point presentation followed by the oral examnation) is 31 points, corresponding to 30/thirties magna cum laude.
If the student chooses to take a written examination after the Power Point presentation, first of all he/she must inform the teacher via email about his/her choice, within the deadline for enrolling in the test date. The written test will contain 5 questions with open answers (2 with a maximum score of 6 points and 3 with a maximum score of 4 points) and 6 multiple choice questions with 4 possible answers (0.5 points for each correct answer), for a total of 27 points. As for the oral examination, the maximum score that can be obtained in the test is 31 points, corresponding to 30/thirties magna cum laude. Reference texts
- Lecture notes (Power Point presentations).
Students enrolled in the academic year 2017-2018 and academic year 2018-2019 who are interested to receive the lectures in pdf format should sent an email to the teacher (address: marco.pezzi@unife.it), clearly stating first and last name, student number, university course and year of course. After receiving this email, the teacher will send as soon as possible the requested material via email.
Reference textbooks:
1. Caneva G., M.P. Nugari & Salvadori O. (2003): La biologia nel restauro. Nardini Editore, Firenze.
2. Caneva G., M.P. Nugari & Salvadori O. (2005): La biologia vegetale per i beni culturali. Vol. 1 - Biodeterioramento e conservazione. Nardini Editore, Firenze.
3. Verran J. & Allsopp D. (2010): Atlas of Biodeterioration. International Biodeterioration Biodegradation Society (Ed.). ISBN 978-0-9926498-0-7.
4. Puccini V. & Tarsitano E. (2003): Parassitologia urbana - città, animali e salute pubblica.
5. L. Süss (2004): Gli intrusi. Manuale di Entomologia Urbana. Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario, Verona.
6. E. Chiappini, G. Liotta, M.C. Regazzi & A. Battisti (2001): Insetti e restauro. Edizione Calderini Edagricole, Bologna.
7. Gambetta A. (2010): Funghi e insetti del legno - diagnosi, prevenzione, controllo. Nardini Editore, Firenze.
8. Anselmi N. & Govi G. (1996): Patologie del legno. Edagricole, Bologna.
9. M. Dalprà (2007): Degrado biotico del legno. Daniela Piazza Editore,Torino.
10. Copedé M. (2003): La carta e il suo degrado. Nardini Editore, Firenze.
