title: Fungal bioturbation paths in a compact disk.
abstract: We report here on bioturbation traces, with micro-dendrite textures, composed of a mixture of altered aluminum and polycarbonate, which have been developed in a common compact disk (CD), destroying information pits. Fungal hyphae proliferated in these deteriorated zones, and Geotrichum-type fungus was isolated from surface-sterilized CD fragments. The severe biodeterioration described is attributed to the slow growth of this arthroconidial fungus on the CD material in the tropical indoor environment of Belize, Central America (approximately 30 degrees C, approximately 90% humidity).
authors.affiliation: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. guinea@mncn.csic.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Guinea
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cárdenes
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D001531:Belize; D016250:Compact Disks; D005848:Geotrichum / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D000535:Aluminum