tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post1096063758770128499..comments2024-01-08T19:01:37.331+00:00Comments on Donegal Wildlife: Lichens - fungi that have learned the art of gardeningStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-1067710608897795812009-09-10T11:54:40.357+01:002009-09-10T11:54:40.357+01:00Thanks :-)Thanks :-)Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15736035484977149890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-48367012381038899642009-09-09T14:11:44.715+01:002009-09-09T14:11:44.715+01:00Hmm...the "basically a house...." senten...Hmm...the "basically a house...." sentence can be interpreted in two ways. I was meaning within the context of a lichenised alga, not a free one.<br /><br />So, rewriting....<br /><br />When free-range, the alga can reproduce freely. When housed inside a lichen, the alga can only reproduce within the bounds of that lichen as the lichen grows and has no way to make any part of itself free range.<br /><br />I could also have added that the ejected fungal spores must conveniently end up on an appropriate alga in order to become a new lichen specimen, which implies some wastage. Hence the alternative reproductive system employed by some lichens, whereby a bundle of fungal hyphae and encapsulated alga are ejected to start new lichens. Some lichens employ yet another reproductive system whereby parts of the lichen body simply break off to start a new specimen. Some lichens grow on crumbly substrates for just that purpose.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-64784575074558552262009-09-09T10:10:17.962+01:002009-09-09T10:10:17.962+01:00Nice page - though "basically a house for the...Nice page - though "basically a house for the alga, which is constrained by the lichen, and is only able to reproduce within the confines of that structure, and is unable to free any part of itself as independent offspring." doesn'ts quite fit with "Firstly, the algal partner can - and often does - survive on its own, whereas the fungus cannot. "<br /><br />Fine shot of the 'baby mushroom' fruiting bodies.Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15736035484977149890noreply@blogger.com