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review (2020): "Three challenges to contemporaneous taxonomy from a licheno-mycological perspective"[1]
A. Explanation of composite organism
review (2020): "Lichens redefined as complex ecosystems"
suggested redefinition of lichen: a self-sufficient ecosystem formed by the interaction of a thallus-forming fungus, an extracellular arrangement of one or more photosynthetic partners, and a variable number of other microorganisms.[2]
proposal of modified definition of lichen, "integrating aspects put forward by Ainsworth et al. (1971), Hawksworth (1988), Honegger (1991, 2012), Goward (1994), Kirk et al. (2008), and Hawksworth and Grube (2020)."[3]
"A lichen is a stable, self-supporting association of a fungus or fungal-like organism, the primary mycobiont, and a morphologically undifferentiated, unicellular to filamentous alga and/or a cyanobacterium, the primary (and secondary) photobiont, along with obligately associated elements of the fungal and bacterial microbiome contained therein. The phenotype of the mycobiont in the lichenized state (the exhabitant) typically functions as a greenhouse around the photobiont (the inhabitant), the mechanical, physiological and evolutionary properties of the symbiosis thereby exhibiting analogies with agriculture."[3]
B. Where lichens fit in the "tree of life"
C. Why they're named for fungal partner
some background info here (in section "What are lichens and how should they be named?")[3]
D. How often lichen lifestyle has evolved
note duplication of this with "Lichen evolution" later. I think here, mention of lichenization should be brief and to the point, with more information in later section.
E. Percentage of fungal species that have this lifestyle
review (2018): "Fungal diversity in lichens: from extremotolerance to interactions with algae"
F. Number of classes, orders, genera and species included
lichen #'s as of 2017: "the number of lichenized species is now tabulated at 19,409 and the number of fungal genera, families, and orders including lichens at 1,002, 119, and 40, respectively"[4][5]
The highest reported elevation for a lichen is 7,400 m (24,300 ft), in Makalu (Nepal); these are the rock- and soil-dwelling crustose lichens Carbonea vorticosa, Pertusaria bryontha, and Lecanora polytropa. For comparison, the highest recorded elevation for a plant is 6,400 m (21,000 ft).[9]
B. Percentage of earth's surface covered
Could mention this (2020) study in a discussion about lichen biomass: "The weight of the crust: Biomass of crustose lichens in tropical dry forest represents more than half of foliar biomass"[10]
C. Various substrates used (including endolithic, within plant parts, etc.)
source (2017, book chapter): "Symbiotic Cyanobacteria in Lichens"[19]
3. Yeast - briefly when and how they discovered this was an integral partner for some species
this (2017) review summarizes knowledge of yeasts in lichen[20] (maybe too dated for use)
source (2022): "The yeast lichenosphere: high diversity of basidiomycetes from the lichens Tephromela atra and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma"[21]
4. UNPOs: Unicellular, Non-Photosynthesizing Organisms (not traditionally recognized as lichen symbionts), part of of 3-D biofilms some lichens make[22]
B. Bipartite vs tripartite lichens - % of each, with explanation of advantages conferred
review (2018): "Relative symbiont input and the lichen symbiotic outcome"[25]
review (2022): "Evolutionary biology of lichen symbioses"[26]
(2022): "A call to reconceptualize lichen symbioses"[27]
review (2023): "Chronicle of Research into Lichen-Associated Bacteria"[28]
review (2023): "How to build a lichen: from metabolite release to symbiotic interplay"[29]
review (2021): "Towards a Systems Biology Approach to Understanding the Lichen Symbiosis: Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing Network Modelling"[30]
review (2020): "The Lichens’ Microbiota, Still a Mystery?"[31]
review (2023): "Is lichen symbiont mutualism a myth?"[32]
C. Nitrogen fixation
review (2010): "Ammonium and nitrate tolerance in lichens"[33]
A. ecological significance of lichens in ecosystems
review (2023): This review highlights the growing understanding of lichen ecophysiology and its importance in predicting responses to climate change, emphasizing the role of water content, vapour pressure differential, and symbiont dynamics.[36]
review (2023): "Functional Traits in Lichen Ecology", discussing how "functional traits" (see functional ecology) influence lichen community structure and function, and the development of life-history strategies[37]
B. Role in nutrient cycles
review (2007); how lichens contribute to biogeochemical cycling (i.e., biogeochemistry)[38]
review (2000): "Weathering of rocks induced by lichen colonization"[39]
review (2017): "How lichens impact on terrestrial community and ecosystem properties"[40]
C. Interactions with other (non-human) organisms
source (1994): "Lichens as nesting material for northern flying squirrels in the northern Rocky Mountains" [41]
review (2017): "Microbial communities of lichens"[20]
source (1999): "A Review of the Behavior and Ecology of the Northern Parula (Parula americana) With Notes From Oklahoma and Texas"[42]
Coenogonium linkii, a common filamentous lichen of Neotropical lowland rainforests, is inhabited by several species of terrestrial diatoms. They grow between the thallus filaments on extracellular material of the mycobiont. It's probably an example of commensalism.[43]
source (2011): Endozoochory is significant for seed plant dispersal, but its role in dispersing lichen has been largely unexplored until a study demonstrated that lichen fragments can survive and regenerate after passing through the digestive systems of snails, suggesting that gastropods may be vital, previously overlooked vectors for lichen dispersal.[44]
this (2018) source has a large discussion on both lichenization and lichen fossils. "This leaves 190 accepted lichen fossils, most of which (90%) are from Paleogene amber."[45]
review (2009): photobionts do not co-evolve along with their mycobiont counterparts[46]
B. Lichenization
source (2005): "Lichen-like symbiosis 600 million years ago"[47]
review (2016): "Lichenized Fungi and the Evolution of Symbiotic Organization"[48]
study (2020): "The macroevolutionary dynamics of symbiotic and phenotypic diversification in lichens"[49]
Lichenometry is a geochronological method that estimates the age of exposed rock surfaces by measuring lichen growth rates, predominantly applied in high latitude and mountainous environments. This dating technique, though innovative in its approach, encounters several limitations and challenges. One of the primary issues is the variability in growth rates of lichens, which can be influenced by environmental factors such as climate, altitude, and substrate type. This variability often leads to inaccuracies in age estimation, making lichenometry less reliable compared to other dating methods. While age estimates obtained by lichenometry should be interpreted with caution, it can provide valuable information when combined with other dating techniques, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of geological and historical timelines.[66]
Adenubi, Olubukola Tolulope; Famuyide, Ibukun Michael; McGaw, Lyndy Joy; Eloff, Jacobus Nicolaas (2022). "Lichens: An update on their ethnopharmacological uses and potential as sources of drug leads". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 298: 115657. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115657. PMID36007717.
Allen, Jessica L.; McMullin, R. Troy; Tripp, Erin A.; Lendemer, James C. (2019). "Lichen conservation in North America: a review of current practices and research in Canada and the United States". Biodiversity and Conservation. 28 (12): 3103–3138. Bibcode:2019BiCon..28.3103A. doi:10.1007/s10531-019-01827-3.
Allen, Jessica L.; Lendemer, James C. (2022). "A call to reconceptualize lichen symbioses". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 37 (7): 582–589. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.004. PMID35397954.
Anderson, J.; Lévesque, N.; Caron, F.; Beckett, P.; Spiers, G.A. (2022). "A review on the use of lichens as a biomonitoring tool for environmental radioactivity". Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 243: 106797. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106797. PMID34968948.
Armstrong, Richard A. (2017). "Adaptation of Lichens to Extreme Conditions". In Shukla, Vertika; Kumar, Sanjeev; Kumar, Narendra (eds.). Plant Adaptation Strategies in Changing Environment. Singapore: Springer Nature. ISBN978-981-10-6743-3.
Asplund, Johan; Wardle, David A. (2017). "How lichens impact on terrestrial community and ecosystem properties". Biological Reviews. 92 (3): 1720–1738. doi:10.1111/brv.12305. hdl:11250/2578209. PMID27730713.
Calcott, Mark J.; Ackerley, David F.; Knight, Allison; Keyzers, Robert A.; Owen, Jeremy G. (2018). "Secondary metabolism in the lichen symbiosis". Chemical Society Reviews. 47 (5): 1730–1760. doi:10.1039/C7CS00431A. PMID29094129.
Cansaran-Duman, Demet; Aras, Sümer (2015). "Lichens as an Alternative Biosorbent: A Review". Phytoremediation. Cham: Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-10969-5_20. ISBN978-3-319-10968-8.
Casselman, Karen Diadick (2001). Lichen Dyes. The New Source Book (2nd ed.). Mineola, New York: Dover Books. ISBN978-0-486-41231-3.
Cometto, Agnese; Leavitt, Steven D.; Millanes, Ana M.; Wedin, Mats; Grube, Martin; Muggia, Lucia (2022). "The yeast lichenosphere: high diversity of basidiomycetes from the lichens Tephromela atra and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma". Fungal Biology. 126 (9): 587–608. doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2022.07.004. PMID36008051. S2CID251240771.
Crawford, Stuart D. (2019). "Lichens Used in Traditional Medicine". Lichen Secondary Metabolites. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 31–97. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16814-8_2. ISBN978-3-030-16813-1.
Eisenreich, Wolfgang; Knispel, Nihat; Beck, Andreas (2011). "Advanced methods for the study of the chemistry and the metabolism of lichens". Phytochemistry Reviews. 10 (3): 445–456. Bibcode:2011PChRv..10..445E. doi:10.1007/s11101-011-9215-3.
Elkhateeb, Waill A.; Daba, Ghoson M.; Sheir, Donia; Nguyen, The-Duy; Hapuarachchi, Kalani K.; Thomas, Paul W. (2021). "Mysterious world of lichens: highlights on their history, applications, and pharmaceutical potentials". The Natural Products Journal. 11 (3): 275–287. doi:10.2174/2210315510666200128123237.
Hayward, G.D.; Rosentreter, R. (1994). "Lichens as nesting material for northern flying squirrels in the northern Rocky Mountains". Journal of Mammalogy. 75 (3): 663–673. doi:10.2307/1382514. JSTOR1382514.
Joulain, Daniel; Tabacchi, Raphaël (2009). "Lichen extracts as raw materials in perfumery. Part 1: oakmoss". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 24 (2): 49–61. doi:10.1002/ffj.1916.
Joulain, Daniel; Tabacchi, Raphaël (2009b). "Lichen extracts as raw materials in perfumery. Part 2: treemoss". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 24 (3): 105–116. doi:10.1002/ffj.1923.
Kranner, Ilse; Beckett, Richard; Hochman, Ayala; Nash, Thomas H. (2008). "Desiccation-tolerance in lichens: a review". The Bryologist. 111 (4): 576–593. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-111.4.576.
Lakatos, Michael; Lange-Bertalot, Horst; Büdel, Burkhard (2004). "Diatoms living inside the thallus of the green algal lichen Coenogonium linkii in neotropical lowland rain forests". Journal of Phycology. 40 (1): 70–73. Bibcode:2004JPcgy..40...70L. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3646.2004.02-205.x.
Lücking, Robert; Hodkinson, Brendan P.; Leavitt, Steven D. (2017). "The 2016 classification of lichenized fungi in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota–Approaching one thousand genera". The Bryologist. 119 (4): 361–416. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-119.4.361. JSTOR44250015.
Lücking, Robert; Hodkinson, Brendan P.; Leavitt, Steven D. (2017b). "Corrections and amendments to the 2016 classification of lichenized fungi in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota". The Bryologist. 120 (1): 58–69. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-120.1.058.
Lücking, Robert (2020). "Three challenges to contemporaneous taxonomy from a licheno-mycological perspective". Megataxa. 1 (1): 78–103. doi:10.11646/megataxa.1.1.16.
Lumbsch, H. Thorsten; Leavitt, Steven D. (2011). "Goodbye morphology? A paradigm shift in the delimitation of species in lichenized fungi". Fungal Diversity. 50 (1): 59–72. doi:10.1007/s13225-011-0123-z.
Mallen-Cooper, Max; Rodríguez-Caballero, Emilio; Eldridge, David J.; Weber, Bettina; Büdel, Burkhard; Höhne, Hermann; Cornwell, Will K. (2023). "Towards an understanding of future range shifts in lichens and mosses under climate change". Journal of Biogeography. 50 (2): 406–417. Bibcode:2023JBiog..50..406M. doi:10.1111/jbi.14542.
Miranda-González, Ricardo; McCune, Bruce (2020). "The weight of the crust: Biomass of crustose lichens in tropical dry forest represents more than half of foliar biomass". Biotropica. 52 (6): 1298–1308. Bibcode:2020Biotr..52.1298M. doi:10.1111/btp.12837.
Saini, Khem Chand; Nayaka, Sanjeeva; Bast, Felix (2019). "Diversity of Lichen Photobionts: Their Coevolution and Bioprospecting Potential". Microbial Diversity in Ecosystem Sustainability and Biotechnological Applications. Singapore: Springer Singapore. pp. 307–323. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-8487-5_13. ISBN978-981-13-8486-8.
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Scharnagl, Klara; Tagirdzhanova, Gulnara; Talbot, Nicholas J. (2023). "The coming golden age for lichen biology". Current Biology. 33 (11): R512–R518. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.054. PMID37279685.
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Scheidigger, Christoph (2021). "2.4. High alpine lichens". In Büdel, Burkhard; Friedl, Thomas (eds.). Life at Rock Surfaces: Challenged by Extreme Light, Temperature and Hydration Fluctuations. Life in Extreme Environments. Vol. 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. pp. 161–174. doi:10.1515/9783110646467-006. ISBN978-3-11-064646-7.
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