A lichen is not a single organism; it is a stable symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria. ... The lichen symbiosis is thought to be a mutualism, since both the fungi and the photosynthetic partners, called photobionts, benefit.

Are lichens parasitic or mutualistic?

Ecology. Lichen associations may be examples of mutualism or commensalism, but the lichen relationship can be considered parasitic under circumstances where the photosynthetic partner can exist in nature independently of the fungal partner, but not vice versa.

What type of relationship is lichen?

Lichens are an example of a symbiotic relationship between algae and certain fungi. They are capable of producing their own food. The alga that is associated with fungus is a green or blue- green alga. There are three forms of lichens based on growth patterns.