Gs4 Security: Lava Rock

Saturday 22 December 2012

Lava Rock

Lichens are a unique group of organisms that consist of two components, a (called the ‘mycobiont’) and an or (called the ‘photobiont’) that live in a close relationship The fungus produces the (the main lichen body) which houses the or the providing protection and creating optimal conditions for the photobionts to This process produces sugars and nutrients which can then be utilised by the Like other lichens, Gloeoheppia turgida is, hence the lichen is able to desiccate (remove water) completely and suspend until more favourable conditions return. This remarkable ability has allowed lichens to colonise a wide range of habitats in which higher plants are unable to survive . In deserts, lichens withcomponents, like the lichen Gloeoheppia turgida, are important as they provide most of the fixed nitrogen to the ecosystem Many lichens are known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution, and, consequently, are used as 'indicators' of the levels of pollution in an area