Lichen settlers
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Lichen settlers

by Antonio Jordán, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain

Lichens are organisms of great importance as pioneers in the colonization of bare soils and rocks exposed that meet very specific ecological functions within ecosystems, such as soil formation.
Especially in arid and semi-arid areas, lichens play a key role in nitrogen cycling, soil aggregation and help to stabilize sand dunes, as in the picture.