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Symbiosis in lichens is the mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship of green algae and/or blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) living among filaments of a fungus, forming lichen. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Living as a symbiont in a lichen appears to be a successful way for a fungus to derive essential nutrients, as about 20% of all fungal species have ...
Thallophyta is a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body. Including unicellular to large algae, fungi, lichens. [5] The first ten phyla are referred to as thallophytes. They are simple plants without roots stems or leaves. [6] They are non-embryophyta. These plants grow mainly in water.
Evidence that lichens are examples of successful symbiosis is the fact that lichens can be found in almost every habitat and geographic area on the planet. [21] Two species in two genera of green algae are found in over 35% of all lichens, but can only rarely be found living on their own outside of a lichen. [52]
Recent work suggests that non-photosynthetic bacterial microbiomes associated with lichens may also have functional significance to lichens. [10] Most mycobiont partners derive from the ascomycetes, and the largest class of lichenized fungi is Lecanoromycetes. [11] The vast majority of lichens derive photobionts from Chlorophyta (green algae). [9]
Over 800 lichen products of known chemical structure have been reported in the scientific literature, and most of these compounds are exclusively found in lichens. [1] Examples of lichen products include usnic acid (a dibenzofuran ), atranorin (a depside), lichexanthone (a xanthone), salazinic acid (a depsidone), and isolichenan , an α-glucan .
Lichens are symbiotic organisms that play an important role in the biogeochemical cycle on Earth. The characteristics of lichens, such as strong resistance to factors such as desiccation, ability to grow and break down rocks allow lichen to grow in different types of environment including highly nitrogen limited area such as subarctic heath.
The fossil lichens from the Lower Devonian (415 million years ago) are composed of algae or cyanobacteria and fungi layers. [8] Through the analysis of scanning electron microscopy, the globose structure of photobionts in Chlorolichenomycites salopensis lichen species during the Lower Devonian looks similar to Trebouxia species. [8]
Trentepohlia is a genus of filamentous chlorophyte green algae in the family Trentepohliaceae, living free on terrestrial supports such as tree trunks and wet rocks or symbiotically in lichens. [2] The filaments of Trentepohlia have a strong orange colour (photograph at right) caused by the presence of large quantities of carotenoid pigments ...