AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Lichens are another such partnership for fungi to gain nutrients from another organism. The algal partner photosynthesizes and provides food for the fungus, so it can grow and spread. Sclerotia veratri, a cup fungus. These types of fungi are the most common fungal partner in lichen biology.

Detailed explanation-2: -Complete answer: The association between the fungi and algae found in the lichen is a symbiotic association. In this type of relationship, both the algae and fungi are benefitted from their association with each other so it is a form of a mutualistic relationship.

Detailed explanation-3: -Lichens are neither fungi nor plants – they are both! The outer skin and internal structure of a lichen is made of strands of fungal hyphae. Interspersed among the strands inside the lichen are individual cells of algae.

Detailed explanation-4: -Lichens are commonly recognized as a symbiotic association of a fungus and a chlorophyll containing partner, either green algae or cyanobacteria, or both. The fungus provides a suitable habitat for the partner, which provides photosynthetically fixed carbon as energy source for the system.