Explores the unusual biology, amazing diversity and ecological importance of lichens and explains how understanding lichen biodiversity may lead to technological developments in medicine, metal prospecting and pollution control. Also includes new information on economic uses and outlines practical project ideas.
What is lichen?; how lichen grow, multiply and disperse; lichen biodiversity; evolution, classification and naming; ecological role; lichens in forests; lichens in extreme environments; biomonitoring; prospecting and dating; economic uses; practical projects.