LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Lichens are called pioneer colonizers of bare rock. How can they help in the formation of soil? Answer: Lichens release enzymes that break the rock into smaller pieces and helps in the formation of soil.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hardly anything lived on land. But lichens can live in extreme conditions. They can grow on bare rocks and break them down, helping to create the soil needed by complex plants with roots (called “vascular plants").

Detailed explanation-3: -Primary Succession Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of weathering and erosion help break down rocks into smaller pieces and move them to new areas.

Detailed explanation-4: -Many lichens contain acids that help break down rock. Furthermore, the mechanical action of the fungal threads of the lichen penetrating the spaces between the rock crystals together with changes in temperature and moisture also help break down rock into soil.