lichen

(noun)

any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae; often found as white or yellow patches on old walls, etc.

Related Terms

  • Ascomycota
  • heterotrophic
  • thallus
  • spore
  • mycorrhiza

Examples of lichen in the following topics:

  • Mutualistic Relationships with Fungi and Fungivores

    • Lichens display a range of colors and textures.
    • The thallus of lichens grows very slowly, expanding its diameter a few millimeters per year.
    • Lichens produce soredia, clusters of algal cells surrounded by mycelia.
    • Soredia are dispersed by wind and water and form new lichens.
    • Lichens have many forms.
  • Nutrients from Other Sources

    • Fungi also form symbiotic associations with cyanobacteria and green algae; the resulting symbiotic organism is called a lichen.
    • Lichens can sometimes be seen as colorful growths on the surface of rocks and trees .
    • Lichens, which result from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and green algae, are often seen growing on trees.
  • Ecological Succession

    • First, weathering and other natural forces break down the substrate enough for the establishment of certain hearty plants and lichens with few soil requirements, known as pioneer species .
  • Characteristics of Fungi

    • Through mycorrhizae, the fungus and plant exchange nutrients and water, greatly aiding the survival of both species Alternatively, lichens are an association between a fungus and its photosynthetic partner (usually an alga).
  • Boreal Forests and Arctic Tundra

    • During the growing season, the ground of the Arctic tundra can be completely covered with plants or lichens.
  • Plant Adaptations to Life on Land

    • In fact, the sporophyte stage is barely noticeable in lower plants (the collective term for the plant groups of mosses, liverworts, and lichens).
  • Stabilizing, Directional, and Diversifying Selection

    • Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the moths were predominately light in color, which allowed them to blend in with the light-colored trees and lichens in their environment.
  • The Importance of Seedless Vascular Plants

    • At the end of the nineteenth century, scientists observed that lichens and mosses were becoming increasingly rare in urban and suburban areas.
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