Lichen

A composite organism formed by a fungus living in a close association with a photosynthetic partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium. Its partners grow together in a distinctive body called a thallus.

Mycobiont: The fungal partner in a lichen association. It forms most of the thallus and structures the habitat of the photosynthetic partner.
Ascomycota: A major fungal phylum whose members produce sexual spores in saclike structures called asci. Most lichen-forming fungi belong to this phylum.
Lichenometry: A dating method that estimates the age of exposed surfaces from the size of lichens growing on them. Lichen growth can help estimate when rocks or landforms were exposed.
Cladonia rangiferina: A fruticose lichen, commonly called reindeer lichen, found across northern regions. It is a major forage for caribou and reindeer in boreal and tundra ecosystems.
Symbiogenesis: The evolution of new biological forms through the lasting integration of formerly independent organisms. Lichen partnerships raise questions about how repeated association can shape organismal identity.
Photobiont: The photosynthetic partner in a lichen, usually a green alga or cyanobacterium. It supplies organic carbon through photosynthesis, and some cyanobacterial partners also fix nitrogen.
Basidiomycota: A major fungal phylum whose members produce sexual spores on structures called basidia. Some lichen-forming fungi belong to this phylum, though fewer than in Ascomycota.
Bioindicator: An organism or biological response used to assess environmental conditions. Lichen presence and chemistry can indicate air pollution and other environmental conditions.
Lobaria pulmonaria: A large, leafy lichen with a ridged surface, commonly called lungwort. Its sensitivity to habitat change makes it useful in studies of old-growth forests.
Horizontal gene transfer: The movement of genetic material between organisms other than through parent-to-offspring inheritance. Researchers investigate whether gene exchange contributes to adaptation in lichen-associated communities.

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