Description:Eroded marble surfaces teem with robust communities of algae bacteria and fungi. These communities are viewed variously as aesthetic disfigurements or enhancements. This presentation provides an overview of the surface ecology of marble and relationships between marble lichens biofilms and weathering; it also will address the question of whether these communities contribute to the deterioration of marble or serve to protect it. About Judy Jacob:Judy Jacob is Senior Conservator with the Northeast Region of the National Park Service working primarily on marble monuments and buildings. Since 2011 she has co-taught “Lichens Biofilms and Stone” at the Eagle Hill Institute in Steuben Maine. Jacob received an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and a post-graduate fellowship for UNESCO’s International Course on Stone Conservation in Venice. She is based in New York City.