Laboratory Experiments as Support for Development of In Situ Conservation Methods

Abstract

Within the EU-Project BACPOLES (EVK4-CT-2001-00043) bacterial wood degradation could be simulated in laboratory experiments to investigate the living conditions of the up to now unknown bacteria consortia, named erosion bacteria (EB), which cause considerable decay on waterlogged archaeological wood. In these Microcosm (MC) experiments the role of oxygen and chemical composition of the sediment were investigated. Therefore, the microcosms were subjected to different gassing treatments and the free dissolved oxygen was measured in different depths of the microcosms by special oxygen sensors (optodes). In further experiments the chemical composition of the sediment was verified to investigate the influence of different nutrient concentrations to the degradation process by EB.

From the findings it can be concluded that bacterial wood decay can proceed without free oxygen present but that it is more intense if oxygen is available. A water flow like streams in the sea, simulated by vertical water circulation, seems to stimulate the degradation activity and the degradation of wood by EB seems to be a result of low nutrient levels in the surrounding area.

Keywords:

• waterlogged wood
• erosion bacteria
• decay simulation
• microcosms
• preservation strategies
• in situ conservation

We appreciate the financial support of the BACPOLES project from the European commission, which funded it under Key Action 4: City of tomorrow and cultural heritage (EVK4-CT-2001-00043), and we would like to thank all involved partners and staffs for data collection and interpretation.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jana Gelbrich

Dr Jana Gelbrich graduated in Forestry in 2001, received her PhD in 2009 in wood biology, research about bacterial wood degradation – chemical changes in wood as well as growth conditions of wood degrading bacteria. Currently she is working as researcher in conservation of waterlogged archaeological wood.

Correspondence to: Dr Jana Gelbrich, Head of Wood Conservation and Laboratory, German Maritime Museum, Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany. Email: [email protected]

Ev Iris Kretschmar

Dr Ev Kretschmar has a first education as environmental scientist and environmental engineer. PhD in landscape ecology, research about sediments characteristics at sites of bacterial wood decay. Currently she is working as ecotoxicologist in the field of environmental risk assessment of biocides. Research interests in the area of sustainable use of biocides and comparative assessment of biocidal products.

Correspondence to: Dr Ev Kretschmar. Email: [email protected]

Norbert Lamersdorf

Professor Dr Norbert Lamersdorf graduated in Forestry in 1983, received his PhD in 1988, and his ‘venia legendi’ for Soil Science and Forest Nutrition in 1999. He is involved in several national and international research projects. Since 2009 he has been the Deputy Head of the Department of Soil Science of Temperate and Boreal Ecosystems at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology of the Göttingen University.

Correspondence to: Professor Dr Norbert Lamersdorf. Email: [email protected]

Holger Militz

Professor Dr Holger Militz received his diploma Wood Science at University Hamburg in 1987. After thirteen years being in several functions in wood research in the Netherlands, since 2000 he is full professor in ‘Wood Biology and Wood Products’ at the University Göttingen, Germany.

Correspondence to: Professor Dr Holger Militz. Email: [email protected]