LICHEN

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LICHEN
17,000 species
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LICHENS are assemblies of symbiotic organisms
photobiont
mycobiont
organic food sugars (minerals nitrogen)
cyanobacteria and/or algae
fungus
sheltered stable environment
Lichens are fungi that have discovered
agriculture"-- lichenologist Trevor Goward.
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rhizines
Thallus structure
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GROWTH FORMS
on rocks, trees, soil,
crustose
foliose
fruticose
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Ecology and Physiology Lichens grow in habitats
which are not readily vegetated by plants (too
dry, too cold, too low in nutrients). They can
be pioneer species in succession. They need high
light intensities. Lichens can tolerate
desiccation, but require a humid environment for
growth. They grow very slowly (15 mm/year). They
are very sensitive to the microclimate.
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BIOMONITORING
Lichens can become very old 100 ( 1000) years
and are used to monitor the age of their
substrate. Lichens are sensitive to
environmental pollution and are used to monitor
heavy metal or SO2 pollution.
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(traditionally) used as

• food
• dye
• medicine
• scent

pH-paper
Cladonia stellaris landscape modelling
Iceland moss Cetraria islandica respiratory
disease
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Letharia vulpina
is lethal respiratory death
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LICHEN
17,000 species
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