Caption: Thallus of a rock lichen. Small growth extensions are protruding from the main thallus surface. Lichens are associations of fungi and algae. The fungi and algae grow with their tissues intimately entwined. The fungi receive sugars and other carbon compounds from the algae. The fungi produce lichen acids which are a mixture of special chemicals that are thought to protect both fungi and algae from being eaten by predators. Mutualisitc or symbiotic relationship.
Magnification*: x26
Type: SEM
Keywords: 20397B.TIF lichen rock algae fungi fungus alga thallus mutualistic symbiotic crustose lichen SEM |

*(Magnifications are based on a 35mm slide image of 24mm in the narrow dimension.)