Lichens are known as composite organisms
I took this photo while out for a hike with Matt at Eagle Creek Park in central Indiana. we had rented a super telephoto lens to take some bird photos. While we were getting out to the lake, I was playing with matts 105mm lens to see how amazing it was at taking macro photography. As you can see from this photo, you are able to get some awe inspiring close up photos when you have the right lens for the job. Let's learn more about the wild green material called lichen that we see attached to this tree.
What is lichen?
Lichens are known as composite organisms that are made up of either algae or cyanobacteria living with multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship. They are not plants, although they are plant-like in appearance. They come in multiple forms: fruticose, foliose, crustose, and leprose. Fruticose is when the lichen have tiny, leafless branches. Foliose is when they have flat leaf-like structures. Crustose is when they adhere tightly to a surface like a coat of paint. Leprose is when they have a powder-like appearance. Many of the common names of lichens include the word "moss", but this is deceiving, as they are not a type of moos or related to any species of moss.
What do lichens do?
Lichen produces their own food through photosynthesis. They do not have roots, so they don't absorb water and nutrients in the same way that plants do. They are able to absorb minerals and water from their environment primarily through rain and dust. There are two methods of reproduction for lichens: vegetative and sexual.
Vegetative reproduction typically occurs from a piece of the lichen breaking off or through the dispersal of diaspores. Diaspores are seeds and either fruit or an elaiosome. An alaiosome is a fleshy structure rich in lipids and proteins attached to a seed.
Where are lichens found?
They can be found in most terrestrial environments around the world. You can encounter them at sea level and on mountaintops. They can grow in many extremes. Lichens can be found adhering to nearly all substrates. This includes: bark, rocks, in the air as epiphytes, soil, rubber, mosses, leaves, and interestingly on other lichens!
They can be found growing on other lichens!
Did you know?
- There are some estimates that 6-8% of the Earth's land surface is covered in lichens!
- They are often the first species to be reintroduced to an area after a fire or a rockslide.
- They are considered to be among the oldest living organisms on the planet. One arctic specimen is dated at 8,600 years old, which would make it the oldest living organism in the world!
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