Lichen

Lichen are comprised of a fungal part and an algae or cyano bacteria part. In the mutualistic relationship between the two parts of a lichen, the algae or cyano bacteria provide the glucose through photosynthesis, the fungi provides nutrients obtained through hyphae. The lichen cross section appears like a sandwhich in which the algae or cyanobacteria are contained within a hyphae net produced by the fungi that forms the outer wall. A lichen is formed when a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria meet in nature and form a mutualistic relationship that allows both to survive in places that they usually would not be able to.
An interesting use for lichens is their ability to measure air quality over time. A quadrat of lichen surface area over time will reveal a trend in declining air quality, or more specifically, pollution and sulfuric compounds which get absorbed by the lichen and cause it not to produce reproductive fruiting bodies.
Some common Lichens:
Antlered perfume
Lipstic cladonia (red fruiting bodies, sited in longmire Mt Ranier Nt park)
Lobaria (exclusive in old growth, Nitrogen fixing)

Posted on June 2, 2012 04:00 AM by robertmarsh