Is it a fungi

[CapAndBracket]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I think the world of fungus is similar to the world of bats in that we probably only understand a fraction of their ecology and the association they have with the habitats they are resident in. Fungus is probably fundamental to all things really I'll bet we'll be uncovering suprising fungal relationships for decades if not longer. Fascinating area and yes ripe for Phd - well funded even as it may well be relevant to crop production or tree health.

Couldn't agree more, and that's where WAB is so good in that we can pick
up snippets of info from all areas of the environment.

Cheers J.P.

[Chris Yeates]

Trametes (Pseudotrametes) gibbosa also seems to have algae on top of it most of the time

there is a tiny ascomycete fungus called Mycosphaerella ascophylli which grows on reproductive structures of the seaweeds channelled wrack Pelvetia caniculata and knotted wrack Ascophyllum nodosum

there are only about 25 UK records, but it is supposed to be always present if looked for on the appropriate seaweeds and I've found that to be true

so an interesting / alga symbiosis (?); I ran this past a lichenologist friend and he laughed indulgently . . . I didn't pursue the matter! and can only suggest that the true lichen relationship is more complex than that

of course we must remember that the Algae themselves are very varied, and are distributed among at least three Phyla (a taxonomic level above that of Kingdom which is where the fungi are placed) plus some lichens like Collema and Peltigera have as their partner so-called blue-green algae which are not algae at all but cyanobacteria. Although blue-greens have a bad public name they are of supreme importance to life on earth. The chloroplasts with which plants make food for themselves are actually cyanobacteria living within the plant's cells. Staggering stuff!

sorry! lecture over . . .

Chris

[CapAndBracket]

Lecture enjoyed (it's obvious from posts you know a alot).

Yes i did realise that some lichens include bacteria rather than algae but kept
it simple.
T.gibbosa seems to be an annual so i'm thinking that the algae remain after
it has deceased, hmm must find some to look at and ponder.

Cheers J.P.