Caption: Thallus of a rock lichen (surface and just below surface). Note the fine filamentous fungal hyphae exposed next to the main thallus surface (smooth and raised area - upper left). 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*: x60
Type: SEM
Keywords: 20400B.TIF lichen rock thallus algae fungi fungus alga hyphae hypha mutualistic symbiotic crustose lichen SEM |

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