Photosynthetic activity of the lichen Xanthoria elegans in relation to the daily course of temperature and humidity, a field study in the Piora valley, Ticino, Switzerland

Abstract

At high altitudes in the absence of vegetation of woody and scrubby plants lichens are dominant primary producers on boulders and rocks. To live there, lichens are forced to be well adapted to alpine environmental stress factors including extreme temperature changes and high solar radiation, including UV. This often results in high rock surface temperatures, low air humidity and drought. To study the dependence of the cellular activity of lichen on temperature and humidity, the initial fast chlorophyll fluorescence rise, indicating ph Show more