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    This is a page from the nps.gov website on lichen. I do not claim any ownership to this data/document. Kindly contact in case this needs to be taken down.

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    This is a page from the nps.gov website on lichen. I do not claim any ownership to this data/document. Kindly contact in case this needs to be taken down.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    18 views2 pages

    Lichens Info

    Uploaded by

    s_spiff
    This is a page from the nps.gov website on lichen. I do not claim any ownership to this data/document. Kindly contact in case this needs to be taken down.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    9/20/12

    NationalParkServiceU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior

    Lichens Arches National Park

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    Lichens

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    ThereisagreatdealofexposedrockinArches,andmuchofitis spottedwithmulticoloredlichens.Lichensusuallygrowonnorthfacing surfacessincereducedsolarradiationisanadvantageformany organismsinthedesert.Lichensalsocolonizehealthy,mature cryptobioticsoilcrust,andoccasionallyonliveordeadplantmaterial. ManyspeciesoflichenarefoundinArches. Alichenisactuallyasimplecommunityofatleasttwoorganisms, namelyfungiwithgreenalgaeorcyanobacteria,thoughsometimes withboth.Thelichenstructureismoreelaborateanddurablethan eitherfungioralgaealone.Greenalgaeandcyanobacteria manufacturefoodviaphotosynthesis,whilefungiprovideabuffer againstweatherandarecapableofextractingnutrientsfromsoiland rock. Lichensarewelladaptedtoaridclimates.Theycancarryonfood productionatanytemperatureabove32Fahrenheit.Lichenscan absorbmorethantheirownweightofwater,andcanabsorb temporarywaterlikedewalmostdirectlyintotheiralgalcells(the waterdoesnotneedtogothroughrootsandstemsasitdoesin vascularplants). Manyplantsbenefitfromthepresenceoflichens.Thecyanobacterial componentoflichenscantransformatmosphericnitrogen(unusable tomostorganisms)intoaformthatisanessentialnutrientforlife. Thisisespeciallyimportantindesertecosystems,wherelackof nitrogenisknowntolimitproductivity.

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    www.nps.gov/arch/naturescience/lichens.htm 1/2

    9/20/12

    Lichens Arches National Park

    Naturallyoccurringsandstonebasinscalledpotholescollectrainwaterandwindblownsediment,forming tinyecosystemswhereafascinatingcollectionofplantsandanimalslive.Tadpole shrimp,fairyshrimpandmanyinsectscanbefoundinpotholes.More...

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    LastUpdated:09/07/2012

    www.nps.gov/arch/naturescience/lichens.htm

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