1. Studying Lichens
By
Doing Some Research
At The Melitensia
At The University Of Malta.
2. Where do we find lichens?
Where do we find lichens?
Lichens are common
organisms that grow in
the most unusual places
including bare rock and
walls, even in urban
areas.
3. How many different types of lichens can be found in the Maltese Islands?
How many different types of lichens can be found in the Maltese Islands?
About 200 lichens
have been
recorded in the
Maltese islands
4. What are Lichens? They are surely not plants. So what are they?
What are Lichens? They are surely not plants. So what are they?
Lichens are unusual
because each species is
made up of two
organisms, a fungus and
an alga, living intimately
together.
5. Is their relationship aabeneficial one?
Is their relationship beneficial one?
Their relationship gives
lichens the ability to
survive under harsh
conditions where no
other organism can
survive.
6. Can they live separetely?
Can they live separetely?
In some cases the fungus and alga
which make up a lichen can be
found living separately in nature
but, in many cases, the two
organisms have become so
dependent on each other that one
cannot survive without the other.
7. Lichens and Pollution
Lichens and Pollution
Lichens do not have leaves or
roots and absorb nutrients
directly through their surface.
This leaves them susceptible to
air pollutants which accu
mulate in their body without
being eliminated.
8. Why are we using lichens as monitors of pollution in this project?
Why are we using lichens as monitors of pollution in this project?
Lichens can tolerate different
concentrations of pollutants with
some species dying at lower levels
than others. This makes lichens
excellent biomonitors and many
species are used to indicate levels of
environmental pollutants.
9. Are Lichens used as aaform of food?
Are Lichens used as form of food?
Many species of lichens
are eaten especially in
times of famine despite
the fact that they can be
difficult to digest.
10. Are Lichens poisonous?
Are Lichens poisonous?
Many species also
contain mildly toxic
compounds, although
few species are
poisonous .
11. Are Lichens used for anything else?
Are Lichens used for anything else?
Some species are
used to produce
dyes including the
pH indicator litmus .
12.
13. SYSTEMATIC LIST OF ENDEMIC LICHEN SPECIES (can only be found in
Malta)
1.Biatora fusco-nigrescens Jatta
2.Caloplaca marmorata Bagi cephaloidea Jatta in Sommier & Caruana
Gatto
3.Caloplaca melitensis Jatta
4.Caloplaca pyracea (Ach.) Th. lactea Mass. macrocarpa Jatta
5.Collema meliteum Jatta conglomeratum Jatta
6.Graphina sophistica Nyl. melitense Jatta in Sommier & Caruana Gatto
7.Lecaniella alocyza Mass. flavidula Jatta
8.Lecanora sublentigera Jatta
9.Lecidea pertusariicola Jatta
10.Scolicosporium doriae Baglietto decussatum Jatta
11.Thalloedema mammillare (Fr.) Mass. pulchella Jatta
