Lichens
Lichens - Related Videos
03:55
Urethroplasty with Pedicled Tunica Vaginalis for the Treatment of Long-segment Anterior Urethral Stricture Caused by Lichen Sclerosus of Glans Penis
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Cited by 1 •
2024
This article introduces a surgical method using a pedicled tunica vaginalis to treat long-segment urethral stricture resulting from lichen sclerosus. The tunica vaginalis is an excellent substitute for the urethra, leading to quick postoperative recovery for patients.
01:24
Biodiversity and Human Values
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2019
Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations. Humans are dependent on agriculture, which developed when ancestral humans found species that made suitable foods. At least 11,000 years ago, humans started to select plant and animal species to be cultivated on farms. Going back for thousands of years, humans have been artificially selecting species...
07:16
Finite Element Analysis Model for Assessing Expansion Patterns from Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion
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2023
A set of novel finite element models of surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) that could perform a clinically required amount of expander activation with various angles of buccal osteotomy was created for further analysis of the expansion patterns of the hemimaxillae in all three dimensions.
06:40
Seven Steps to Stellate Cells
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Cited by 67 •
2011
Here we describe a method for the isolation of hepatic stellate cells from mouse liver. For stellate cell purification, mouse livers are digested in situ and in vitro by pronase-collagenase treatment prior to density gradient centrifugation. This technique yields highly pure hepatic stellate cells.
09:07
Prediction and Validation of Gene Regulatory Elements Activated During Retinoic Acid Induced Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
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Cited by 5 •
2016
In this work we provide an experimental workflow of how active enhancers can be identified and experimentally validated.
FAQs
The partnership functions through complementary resource exchange. The fungus creates a physical framework that helps retain water and obtain minerals, while the photosynthetic partner produces carbohydrates available within the association. This division of functions helps the combined organism persist where either partner alone may be less effective, making resource sharing central to lichen survival.
When the photosynthetic partner is a cyanobacterium, the association may gain biologically fixed nitrogen in addition to carbohydrates. That contribution links lichen biology to nitrogen availability and nutrient cycling, extending the partnership beyond energy production. It also makes the identity of the photosynthetic partner relevant when researchers interpret a lichen’s ecological role.
The fungal component’s ability to retain water can help the association cope with exposed surfaces such as rock, bark, or soil. Its access to minerals also supports growth where resources may be limited. Together, water management and mineral acquisition help explain how lichens establish in demanding environments rather than relying only on carbohydrate production.
By colonizing rock, bark, and soil, lichens participate in early surface change. Their activity contributes to weathering and soil formation, which can alter the substrate and support nutrient cycling. Consequently, lichens are not only occupants of challenging habitats; they also help shape environmental conditions involved in ecosystem development and ecological succession.
Many lichen species respond sensitively to air pollution, so researchers can use lichen responses as evidence of environmental differences. This makes lichen surveys useful for comparing ecosystem health across locations. The approach is biological monitoring: it interprets how organisms respond to environmental conditions rather than treating pollution as an isolated chemical measurement.
Their sensitivity to moisture and broader environmental change means that lichen observations can reveal shifts in habitat conditions. Biology researchers can incorporate lichens into biodiversity studies and ecosystem-health assessments, especially when they need an organism-based signal of changing conditions rather than a description of the physical environment alone.