Why do lichens show symbiosis? Explain with the help of neat & labelled diagram
Answers
Answer:
they show symbiosis because the fungi lack the green pigment to synthesis food and algae and cyanobacteria can conduct photosynthesis, similar to plants.
Explanation:
Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and an algae or a cyanobacterium The symbiotic association found in lichens is currently considered to be a controlled parasitism, in which the fungus benefits and the algae or cyanobacterium is harmed Lichens are slow growing and can live for centuries in a variety of habitats,
fungi cannot harvest light energy from the sun and generate their own nourishment in the form of carbohydrates. Instead, they need to seek out outside sources of food. They absorb nutrition from organic substances, that is, carbon containing compounds such as carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. lichens are excellent indicators of pollution. According to the Forest Service lichens can absorb pollutants such as heavy metals, carbon and sulfur into their thalli. Extracting these pollutants gives an indication of the levels present in the atmosphere. This process is known as lichen biomonitoring.
