Fungi and lichen

Fungi started evolving a billion years ago. They constitute an independent group of living organisms equal in rank to plants and animals. There are 70,000 known species of fungi worldwide, and many more to be discovered. Some scientists estimate that in total there may be 1.5 million species of fungi on earth. Fungi are all around us but most of the time they are in a form we cannot see. Humans and most other living things rely on fungi for the many roles they play in the environment, from producing antibiotics and being involved in brewing beer to soil formation. To find out more about fungi and examples found in the Yorkshire Dales please click on the links above.

A lichen is not a single organism in the way most other living things are, but rather it is a combination of two organisms, a fungi and an algae (a type of plant), which live together intimately, with both of them benefiting from the alliance. There are about 30,000 species of lichen worldwide and they come in a dazzling variety of shapes and colours. Some lichens are very common but we often don’t notice them. Lichens are sensitive to pollution so they tell us about the health of our environment. To find out more about lichens and examples found in the Yorkshire Dales please click on the links above.