In this symbiosis, the fungus (mycobiont) provides structure, protection from drying, and absorbs water and minerals from the environment. The alga or cyanobacterium (photobiont) provides food through photosynthesis, producing carbohydrates that the fungus utilizes. This mutualistic relationship allows lichens to colonize harsh environments, including bare rock, where neither organism could easily survive alone.
Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of
Asked in UPSC IAS 2014 · Topic: Taxonomy (Taxonomic Characters and Evidence (Morphological, Anatomical, Cytological, Molecular))
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