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News: A recent experiment has shown that lichens can thrive in Martian simulation, showcasing another step towards life on Mars. Lichens.
About Lichens
- They are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga.
- The outer skin and internal structure of a lichen is made of strands of fungal hyphae.
- Interspersed among the strands inside the lichen are individual cells of algae.
- Lichens do not have roots or structures like other plants, they depend on the atmosphere for air and water. So, the quality of ambience reflects in the diversity of lichens.
- Spread: Between six to eight percent of Earth’s surface is covered by lichen, with over 15,000 known species.
Note– India’s first Lichen Park was established in 2020 in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand.
