The diverse world within: age-dependent photobiont diversity in the lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the initial formation and development of lichens is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms behind the formation of complex lichen thalli and their maintenance in long-term symbioses. These symbiotic relationships provide significant ecological advantages for both partners, expanding their ecological niches and allowing them, in many cases, to overcome extreme environmental conditions. The correct development of thalli likely relies on the selection of suitable photobionts from the environment. In this study, we focused on the impact of lichen age on the overall diversity of photobiont partners and examined how mycobiont preference toward their symbionts changes at different developmental stages. Using the lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis as a model organism, we observed a str

SUBMITTER: Kantnerova V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12516127 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature