Question

Lichen is usually cited as an example of ‘symbiosis’ in plants where an algal and a fungal species live together for their mutual benefit. Which of the following will happen if algal and fungal partners are separated from each other?

1. Both will survive and grow normally and independent from each other.
2. Both will die
3. Algal component will survive while the fungal component will die.
4. Fungal component will survive while algal partner will die.

Based on your answer how do you justify this association as symbiosis.

Answer 1

Option ‘b’ is the proper choice, as both of them will perish.

Symbiosis: This is a symbiotic interaction that may be defined as a partnership between two or more organisms. Two creatures that benefit from each other's presence. There are a lot of examples of symbiotic relationships in which the death of one partner does not necessarily result in the death of the other. In a symbiotic relationship between a bird and a buffalo, for example, the bird's only food source is not the worms and insects on the buffalo's back. Similarly, the buffalo may be able to get rid of the pests in various ways. In the case of lichen, however, both the fungal and algal components rely on one another for survival. Alga is the only food source for the fungal component in this example. Similarly, the algae's only source of water and nutrients is a fungus. They have no other way to meet their needs, so if one spouse dies, the other will perish. It will still be termed symbiosis since it is a mutually beneficial connection.