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Name: Trapon R.
Status: student
Age: 13
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 11/24/2003
Question:
What are lichens, and how do they break down rocks?

Replies:
Lichens are a unique life form consisting of a fungus and algae intertwined. See these pages for details:

http://www.earthlife.net/lichens/intro.html
-- click on growth for details of growth on rock etc.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/lichens/lichenlh.html

J. Elliott

Lichens are a combination of a fungus and an algae together. The following should be helpful. Lichens upon rocks might retain moisture that contributes to weathering of the rocks.

http://mgd.nacse.org/hyperSQL/lichenland/

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/lichens/lichens.html

http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/conserv/web/biolog.html

Anthony Braach Ph.D.


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