h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

were solar a 1:1, or even near, say a 1:0.95 power source, it would be excellant indeed

And don't fungi make up a significant amount of biomass?

Because fungi, like animals, don't make their own food, they are also dependent on green plants, and could be supposed to be much lower in biomass ... there always is less biomass in the 'top' of the food pyramid than in the bottom. Fungi would be closer to the top than the bottom.

I had forgotten about fungi. I don't know where they stand in terms of biomass. I don't know about bacteria either...

The total biomass of bacteria might be more than that of plants and animals combined. BUT many of those bacteria are also photosynthesising like plants. Ecologically they fulfil the same role as plants.

But in truth we don't really know much about bacterial life ... especially, we don't know how much of it there might be INSIDE the Earth ...

lichens

lichens seme to have a symbiotic relationship with algae.

Lichens are fungi and algae that have a symbiotic relationship. A 'lichen' is thus not a single thing, it is two very different things that have come together in a particular shape for a particular purpose.

I thought lichens were the fungi. No? In any event, I'm sure they won't feel insulted that I didn't understand what they were.

Lichens are fascinating things, as they are the first thing that colonises bare rock. Here, where the most recent volcanic rocks are starting to weather, it is the lichens that start to make their mark. Later more evolved plant species arrive - but centuries and centuries later. The north of the island has small shrubs and plant species but in the south there is just virgin rock, and a small amount of lichen.

This is a good website for general info:

http://rdnhs.org.uk/blog/?page_id=75

It's written by a chap whose job title is 'Recorder of Lichens'

"It's written by a chap whose job title is 'Recorder of Lichens'" [Lanzababy]

He sounds like a fun guy.

I was born almost smack dab in the middle of what used to be the duchy of Slesvig.

To the east is pure Hobitton: Gently rolling hills divided by a few fjords.

But to the west are the seemingly endless marshes - and were it not for many miles of man made dikes it would be completely defenseless against the treacherous not to mention murderous North Sea.

When the weather is quiet the only change here is defined by ebb and flood.

And this is where it becomes interesting: The lands keeps growing out into the sea, because roots of small plants, who can endure being flooded by salt water for hours, bind whatever salt and silt they are growing in, together.

After a while other plants like rudimental grasses and stuff blend in - and at some point the marsh'ians []will erect new dikes and gain more land

I wonder if the first plants are lichens or related to them

there are youths and grown-ups round here that are related to plants (both 2 brain cells behind the plants)

I found an interesting article that says Arctic Carribou actually live off eating lichen.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/lichen
I had never before heard that these were a composite organism.
One thing I do know,from first hand experience, is that on the antarctic peninsula there are glaciers that get their color from the algae on them. This algae lives without the fungi. also there are many boulders there in which that component is present and it is an actual lichen on the antarctic landscape.

I knew tht caribou ate lichen. They can eat all they want of it. Just don't ask me to make any caribou into pets. I wouldn't relish the trips to the lichen store to keep them fed.

There is more frustrating weather in Europe; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100136/Europe-weather-Rivers-lakes-seas-iced-bitter-Siberian-cold-leads-temperatures-40C.html

I think it would be quite cool to have a caribou (is it the singular as well?) but imagine if they started stocking it in pet stores - now our own brand super-deleuxe lichen...doesn't really work

*waves to dsg - those photos are amazing, thanks for sharing.



...pet caribou!

Caribou and reindeer don't actually *need* lichens. It's just that lichens is all that there is to eat in much of their range. Domesticated reindeer or caribou can graze and eat hay and cattle food pellets. Here's more information on feeding them:

http://www.deer-library.com/artman/publish/article_158.shtml

Right! Off to my neighbour to steal his cattle food

I made a mistake in going to a shop in my lunchbreak. As soon as I went out to the street again a huge blizzard started. Everything was white (well, more white than before) in minutes. It's still going on but not so bad. And I have wet clothes now. (back in the office)