ArticleAnnals of botany2020
Symbiosis at its limits: ecophysiological consequences of lichenization in the genus Prasiola in Antarctica.
Article in Annals of botany, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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5 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Lichens and Health-Trends and Perspectives for the Study of Biodiversity in the Antarctic Ecosystem.Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- The Establishment of a Terrestrial Macroalga Canopy Impacts Microbial Soil Communities in Antarctica.Microbial ecology · 2025Article
- Protective Strategies ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2022Article
- Electron microscopy and calorimetry of proteins in supercooled water.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Synergistic adaptations: freezing tolerance is associated with desiccation tolerance and activation of violaxanthin de-epoxidase in wintergreen ferns.Journal of experimental botany · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsLichens represent a symbiotic relationship between at least one fungal and one photosynthetic partner. The association between the lichen-forming fungus Mastodia tessellata (Verrucariaceae) and different species of Prasiola (Trebouxiophyceae) has an amphipolar distribution and represents a unique case study for the understanding of lichen symbiosis because of the macroalgal nature of the photobiont, the flexibility of the symbiotic interaction and the co-existence of free-living and lichenized forms in the same microenvironment. In this context, we aimed to (1) characterize the photosynthetic performance of co-occurring populations of free-living and lichenized Prasiola and (2) assess the effect of the symbiosis on water relations in Prasiola, including its tolerance of desiccation and its survival and performance under sub-zero temperatures.
methodsPhotochemical responses to irradiance, desiccation and freezing temperature and pressure-volume curves of co-existing free-living and lichenized Prasiola thalli were measured in situ in Livingston Island (Maritime Antarctica). Analyses of photosynthetic pigment, glass transition and ice nucleation temperatures, surface hydrophobicity extent and molecular analyses were conducted in the laboratory. KEY
resultsFree-living and lichenized forms of Prasiola were identified as two different species: P. crispa and Prasiola sp., respectively. While lichenization appears to have no effect on the photochemical performance of the alga or its tolerance of desiccation (in the short term), the symbiotic lifestyle involves (1) changes in water relations, (2) a considerable decrease in the net carbon balance and (3) enhanced freezing tolerance.
conclusionsOur results support improved tolerance of sub-zero temperature as the main benefit of lichenization for the photobiont, but highlight that lichenization represents a delicate equilibrium between a mutualistic and a less reciprocal relationship. In a warmer climate scenario, the spread of the free-living Prasiola to the detriment of the lichen form would be likely, with unknown consequences for Maritime Antarctic ecosystems.
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