Microbes are the foundation of all life but we know very little about them. The more we do learn about them, the more we come to understand that microbes, although small in size, accumulate to contribute significantly to the functioning of complex systems. A holistic landscape design must therefore accommodate and encourage microbial life as a foundational element from to enhance longevity and sustainability.
The 3 eukaryotic species:
Algae
These range from single celled organisms to the complex macro-organisms such as seaweed and are generally associated in damp, aquatic areas.
Fungi
Can also be single celled, but in the main these are multicellular filamentous organisms consisting of hyphae which forms an intertwined network known as mycelium. These networks connect to plant roots forming mycorrhizae in which nutrients are procured, shared and enable communication as the mycelial networks increase root mass by two to three times and can stretch up to 2km in a healthy rhizosphere.
· Key fact: Mushrooms are the fruiting, reproductive organ of hyphae providing atmospheric spore dispersal.
Lichen
These organisms form when an algal and a fungal cell join in a mutually beneficial symbiosis. The algal cells photosynthesise to produce carbohydrates (fuel) whilst the fungal networks transport these carbohydrates, expand the organism and reproduce through atmospheric fungal spore distribution. There are two main categories of lichen: Nitrogen loving and Nitrogen sensitive. The former are generally found in urban areas whilst the latter are prolific in woodlands and rural areas with higher air quality.
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