Economic Importance Of Lichens: Structure, Reproduction

What Are Lichens?

Lichens are the literature have defined as heterotrophic mycobionts and photoautotrophic photobionts in a mutually beneficial association. Variety in shapes and colours is also added in lichens; these are found growing even in the harshest conditions as in arctic tundras and even deserts. They have environmental functions including the indicators of air quality, toilers in the soil building process, and food providers and shelter providers to many species. Lichen believes that this distinctly analyzed field of Biology is good for picking up these relationships and the ecological importance of lichens and their uses in biotechnology, medicine, and climate change research.

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Diversity And Distribution Of Lichens

Overview Of Lichen Diversity

• Lichens also reveal very high levels of anatomical variation, currently estimated to lead to over 20,000 species which in terms of form, colour and size differ significantly.

• They can be classified into three main types: of which three classes can be distinguished: crustose (crusty), foliose (leafy), and fruticose (shrubby).

• This diversity is the reason they can exist in different environments.

Global Distribution Patterns

• Lichens are magnificent organisms that inhabit every continent from the Arctic circles to the desert expanses, from mountain tops to the tropical rain forest.

• They can survive in conditions at which most other organisms would be unable to survive, this is the degree of adaptability of these types of organisms.

Factors Influencing Lichen Distribution

• This paper intends to discuss the effects of climate, substrate, quality of air, and the quality of light on the lichen.

• They are dependent on changes in the environment, particularly air pollution, thus making them useful in bioindication.

• Proper substrates such as stones, soil or trees are also important in the growth of these plants.

Ecological Roles Of Lichens

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Fungi And Algae/Cyanobacteria

• Lichens refer to a mutual association between fungi and one of the partners being an alga or blue-green algae.

• Chitin forms the structural framework and offers protection and the algae or cyanobacteria perform the photosynthetic activity and manufacture food for all.

• Such a relationship means that lichens may grow just about anywhere and in rather harsh conditions.

Role Of Lichens In Nutrient Cycling

• There is evidence that lichen plays a very important role in nutrient cycling.

• Through this process, they contribute through biological weathering by breaking the rocks into the soil and then releasing friendly minerals.

• Further, lichens still play a still important role since they can fix atmospheric nitrogen, which contributes to the enhancement of soil fertility and plant production, particularly in regions where nutrient scarcity is characteristic.

Lichens As Bioindicators Of Environmental Health

• Lichens are wonderful markers of Biological quality since they react much to the changes in the environment especially to air-borne pollution agents.

• The occurrence or non-occurrence of these members or their condition can help reveal the quality of the air and the conditions of ecosystems.

• Overseeing the condition of lichens assists scientists in noting the occurrence and progress of changes in the environment and the presence of pollutants.

Economic Uses Of Lichens

The economic uses of lichens are listed below-

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial and antiviral properties

• Lichens are currently used in the production of antibiotics and antiviral medication due to the fact many ofcanity to fight bacterial and viral infections.

• Some of the compounds obtained from lichens are being studied to be used in treatments for bacterial and viral infections and diseases.

Traditional medicinal applications

• Traditional treatments that incorporate lichens are as old as anyone’s memory.

• Lichens prepared by indigenous communities proved useful in the treatment of cuts, breathing difficulties, and stomach ailments.

• It is this difference in the aspect of bioactive compounds that remain contemporary inputs to modern medicinal research and practice.

Industrial Uses

Dyes and pigments

• According to history, lichens can be used for producing natural dyes and pigments in different arts and crafts.

• Such compounds include; usnic acid which gives yellow colours and orcein which gives red or purple colours.

• These dyes have been applied in textile, makeup, arts and other related industries they are characterized by their quality brightness.

Perfumes And fragrances

• Lichens, mainly Evernia prunastri (oakmoss) and Pseudevernia furfuracea (tree moss) are used in the production of perfumes.

• The extracts from these lichens are used as fixatives which makes the fragrance groller and includes earthy and woody undertones.

Biological Indicators in Pollution Monitoring

• Many lichens are applied as biotickers since they are affected by changes in air quality, specifically SO2 and heavy metals.

• The health and observation of lichens enjoy important statistical data on air health and pollution which will contribute to ecological investigations and legal actions.

Food And Nutrition

Historical and cultural uses as emergency food

• Lichens have been employed particularly as famine foods by different societies/tribes in the past especially when regular foods were inaccessible for one reason or the other.

• For example, Eskimos rely on Iceland moss, Cetraria islandica that after proper preparation free carbohydrates essential to them in the time of famine.

Current nutritional studies and potential future uses

Some of the acknowledged nutritional composition of lichens revealed through recent nutritional research is that it consists of vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates among others. Studies are being conducted on their use as a source of feed, nutrition, and novel food ingredients and functional foods, especially as sources of fibre and their functionality and health effects such as being antioxidant agents.

Lichen Conservation And Sustainability

Threats To Lichen Populations

• The future of lichens is threatened by problems such as the increase in air pollution, destruction of habitats, climate change, and over-picking.

• Chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and heavy metals are also dangerous to the organisms and affect the lichens since they are sensitive to changes in the environment.

• Besides, their natural environment is altered through activities such as deforestation, urbanisation, and climate change, which causes a decline in lichen populations and the number of available species.

Conservation Strategies

• Some of these conservation measures include; preserving the habitat of the lichens through campaigns for the setting up of conservation areas/reerves etc.

• Evaluating the air quality and thus working to contain the amount of pollution that gets released into the environment are equally important.

• Education of the community and people in general concerning the ecological role of lichens and including local people in the conservation measures will go a long way in ensuring the survival of lichens.

Sustainable Harvesting Practices

• Lichens must not be exploited to the limit by using techniques that cause the faster depletion of the resources accessible.

• These practices include picking lichens so that the rest can reproduce and not picking the rare and endangered lichens.

• The use of guidelines and regulations in lichen collection assists in halting or regulating economic use to conserve natural resources.

Lichen-Derived Products

Thus, lichens are useful in industries providing products needed for the satisfaction of various human needs. These include:

Dyes and Pigments

In past, lichens have been employed in the preparation of natural colourants for cloth, cosmetics, and paintings Before packaged food, lichens were also employed to make flavouring agents such as orcein that offer red to violet hue and usnic acid that gives yellow colour.

Medicines

Some secondary metabolites found among the lichens cover the antimicrobial activity against bacteria, and viruses and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds are being studied and incorporated into the development of modern drugs and products in traditional medicine.

Perfumes and Fragrances

The essential oils from the lichen family are employed in the perfume sector to act as a fixative, and to give the scent a typical earthy, woody undertone, ingredients like oakmoss and tree moss.

Nutritional Supplements

Some of the recent works imply the possibility of lichen application in nutritional supplements because of vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant contents. They are being investigated for possibilities to be used as sources of functional and sustainable foods.

Biological Indicators

Lichens are known to be used as bioindicators to assess the health of the environment as well as the air quality. Because they are sensitive to pollutants, these organisms are useful in ecological studies and managing pollution.