Lichen is an example of _______ type of relationship.

The correct answer is Mutualism.

Key Points

• Lichens represent a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (algae or cyanobacteria).
• In this relationship, both the fungus and the photosynthetic partner benefit mutually.
• The fungus provides a protective structure and absorbs water and nutrients, while the algae or cyanobacteria produce food through photosynthesis.
• Lichens are a classic example of mutualism, where both organisms depend on each other for survival.
• This relationship allows lichens to thrive in extreme environments like deserts, tundras, and even bare rocks.

Additional Information

• Mutualism: A type of symbiotic interaction where both species involved derive benefits, such as the relationship between pollinators and flowering plants.
• Other types of symbiosis:
  • Commensalism: One organism benefits, while the other is neither helped nor harmed (e.g., barnacles on whales).
  • Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of the other (e.g., ticks feeding on animals).
  • Amensalism: One species is inhibited or destroyed, while the other remains unaffected (e.g., penicillin killing bacteria).
  • Predation: One organism (predator) kills and eats another organism (prey).
• Lichens are bioindicators of air quality, as they are sensitive to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide.
• The fungal component of lichens is mostly from the phylum Ascomycota, while the photosynthetic partner is either green algae or cyanobacteria.
• Lichens play an important ecological role by contributing to soil formation and providing food and shelter to various organisms in ecosystems.