give the economic and ecological significance of lichens.
Answers
Economic importance of Lichens
- Lichen, especially crustaceous lichens erode rocks and convert them in to soil. After their death, thallus dissolves and form organic matter, which mix these rock minerals with salts and make the soil suitable so that other plants can grow.
- Microbial dosages of Sulfur dioxide pave a side effect on their growth. Therefore, they are good indicators of air pollution and become extinct in the polluted areas.
- Some lichens like stone mushrooms are used as a food.
- Lichen and other chemical substances present in it are also used as medicines.
-perfumes are also made from lichens; such as from Ramalina lichen.
ecological significance of lichens.
It would not be wrong to say that the lichen is an organism with ecological and economic importance and is used in many forms.
-They have the ability to separate the minerals by eroding rocks. Therefore, they also grow on empty rocks. Because of its death and dissolution, there becomes a fold of mineral and organic matter on which other plants can grow. Thus, they produce suitable conditions for other plants to grow on rocks.
- In the Tundra regions, lichens are available in abundance.
- They also contribute in the formation of soil by enriching it by trapping water, dust and silt. Also, when lichens die they contribute organic matter to the soil, which further improves the quality of the soil so that more plants can grow.
- Lichen also plays an important role in fixing nitrogen. Due to their cooperation with algae, lichens are capable of converting nitrogen from the air into nitrate, which leads to their development. This conversion of nitrogen impacts the ecosystem because when it rains, nitrates are leached from lichens and is used by soil-based plants.
- Lichen needs clean air to grow. They are not able to tolerate pollution. Therefore, to grow they absorb everything from the air including carbon dioxide and heavy metals. Scientists can determine the level of air pollution in the area with the help of lichens and if lichens are dying in one site due to harmful pollution, it can be considered as the initial warning or signal that the level of pollution is increasing at that place.
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Answer:
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Explanation:
Lichens hold a great economic importance and are essential for the environment in several ways.
Some species of lichens are regarded with the conversion of rocks into the soil, helps in the formation of soil, improving the quality of the soil and also by enriching the soil required for the plants’ growth.
Lichens also plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere.
Lichens serve as an important source of food for humans across the world. The Iceland moss is an important source of food in certain parts of both Northern Europe and American continents.
Based on the size of these lichens, Petrologists and Geologists are able to study and find the age and other features of rocks and their surfaces.
Since ancient times, these species are well known for their various colouring agents and dyes. They are a good source of natural dyes. The litmus test, pH indicator and other dyes used in laboratories are extracted from different species of lichens.
Lichens also serve as a Biodegradation, by the degradation of polyester, lead, copper, radionuclides and other pollutants, polluting the planet earth.
Apart from the pharmaceutical industries, lichens are widely used by various cosmetic industries and are also a natural medicine for various types of skin diseases and rashes.
Some species of lichens are used for degradation of pathogens and other environmental reservoirs, which causes certain dreadful infectious diseases both in plants, animals and also in humans.
They are also a great source of food for many aquatic organisms and are widely used as anti-infective agents in pharmaceutical industries to produce antibiotics, anti-mycobacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory products.