Lecture 22

Question 1

Define mycobiont and photobiont

Answer 1

Mycobiont - acquires water, nutrients from rain and dust. Provides structure
Photobiont - photosynthesizes, cyanobacteria may also fix N

Question 2

Describe some of the extreme environments in which lichens can grow, and
explain how they can grow in these extreme environments

Answer 2

• Bare rock
• Desert sand
• Dead wood
• Animal bones
• Rusty metal

Question 3

Describe three major lichen growth forms

Answer 3

Crustose
- grows tightly agaisnt trees, rocks
- cant be removed without damaging substrate
Foliose
- with lobes that grow more or less parallel to substrate
- looser attachment to substrate than crustose
Fruticose
- 3D shrubby
- usually round in cross section, branched

Question 4

explain hiw lichens are named

Answer 4

they recieve the name (genus + species epithet) of the mycobiont

Question 5

Explain how lichens reproduce

Answer 5

usually fragmentation