What is it about?
Lichens are wonderful symbiotic structures between a fungus and an algal or bacterial partner that can harvest energy from light via photosynthesis. Lichens also contain multiple other microorganisms. However, we still do not know what types of microorganisms are present or if they are shared among different lichen species. Studying the composition and diversity of these microbial communities in lichens can help to understand their possible contributions to lichen function and roles within these structures.
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Why is it important?
Lichens are unique in their capacity to grow and survive under environmental conditions that can be considered inhospitable to other organisms. These structures contain multitudes of microorganisms that might be important for understanding how these lichens thrive and survive in various locations, despite having few nutrients available.
Perspectives
The biological world contains many manifestations of beauty, survival, and joint cooperation between organisms that enable life to continue. Lichens are one such manifestation. Despite being found in many locations, lichens are difficult to study, and very little is known regarding the multiple microbial communities that they contain. However, these microorganisms, which are fundamental to life on this planet and to ecosystem health, might also be very relevant for understanding how these forms of life can thrive and grow.
Maria Mercedes Zambrano
Corporación Corpogen
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The microbiomes of seven lichen genera reveal host specificity, a reduced core community and potential as source of antimicrobials, October 2019, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,
DOI: 10.1101/789032.
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