Project:

Little Miss Lichen Follows in Mr. Lichen's Footsteps to the Water

Students:

Shibin (Olivia) Kim, Xinxin (Amy) Li, Seoyoung Shin, Emily Yao

School:

The Stony Brook School,

Mentors:

Erol Altug

Abstract:

Lichens comprise a fungus living in a symbiotic relationship with an algae or cyanobacteria. There are about 17,000 species of lichen in the world. They receive all their nutrients and water from its atmosphere and nitrogen in the air. Lichens in dry environments, however, may have less resources to grow than lichens in wet environments. This is because lichens, unlike plants, do not have a cuticle to retain water especially during droughts so they stop growing and become dry and brittle. Instead, they have a cortex that absorbs water and water vapor, thus, start photosynthesizing and growing. This process is called “poikilohydry” and can be identified by its physical traits like color (Ex: darker black or brighter green mostly means that it is photosynthesizing). https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/habitat.shtml

Poster:

Team samples: