How does light intensity affect the surface area of Foliose lichen?

Introduction
From a young age, I had a great passion for climbing trees, where lichen grew freely throughout
the forest and in my garden. I had to be extra careful with the lichen, or Foliose Lichen, which
grew slowly through the years on the trunks of the trees which became slippery when climbing. It
would usually be grey-green and form circular colonies due to the organism's lack of
independence.1 Thus the fungus encircles the algae cells and is covered with fungus cells which
create a body of Foliose lichen known as Thalia, which can also contain non photosynthetic
bacteria which results in many marginal structures of Foliose lichen.2. Lichen is a symbiotic
organism that is composed of the fungus, which make up the body of the organism and provides
structural support, and bond with single-celled photosynthetic organisms such as algae which is
responsible for photosynthesis and provides food for the lichen. Many scientists believe that this
relationship is not balanced due to the fungus's vital
need to eat the sugars made by algae. Some lichens also
contain Cyanobacteria which provides food through
photosynthesis but also fixes nitrogen in the form of
nitrogen gas from the atmosphere in the form where
plants and fungus can utilise for growth. Lichen is
found in every continent due to its ability to grow in
harsh conditions and is key to a healthy ecosystem, this
is seen through their important contributions to the
nutrients cycle- which supply nitrogen to soil from
plant growth. They also prevent erosion when growing
from the surfaces of rocks. Moreover, Lichen provides
shelter and resources (such as nests) for animals. There
are around two-hundred thousand species but the three main species of lichen: Fruticose, Foliose
(most common, its physical characteristics are in the shape of a leaf and are on the surfaces of
bark, an example would be Parmelia) and Crustose.
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Figure 1: Foliose Lichen

1
“Plant of the Week.” Lichens, Foliose. Accessed October 24, 2022.
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/foliose-lichens.aspx.
2
Fabio. “Foliose Lichen.” Learn About Nature, May 23, 2022.
https://www.learnaboutnature.com/plants/lichens/foliose-lichen/.
3
Armstrong, W.P. “Foliose Lichen.” Wayne's word, 2005. https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/.

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Hypothesis
As lichen is a very light-tolerant plant, I expect it will be well adapted to different light intensities
and thus, I expect the surface area to be high as the light intensity decreases. As light intensity
increases, the surface area will also increase due to photosynthesis which takes place sufficiently.

Variables
Independent variable
The independent variable here is the Light Intensity (lux).

Dependent variable
The dependent variable here is the Surface Area.

Controlled variables
- The light intensity was measured at exact time periods during a span of four days. All the
measurements took roughly 40 minutes at the time of the day the sun was highest in the
sky above the location (sunrise was at 5:14am and sunset was at 21:39 and the
measurements were taken at 14:20-15:00 which is when the sun was at its highest in the
sky).
- To account for the different surface areas of each tree, only the height and circumference
of each section of measurement was taken in order to have reference and sufficient data to
ensure the results were as reliable as possible.
- Each section was started at 60CM above ground level and was measured for lichen per
20CM.

Uncontrolled variables
- There was a large variety of lichen which grew around the tree, with this, it became hard
to differentiate foliose lichen to others, which could lead to some impressions later on.

Experiment
Apparatus
- Light intensity metre (土0.5 lux)
- 5 trees taken from all close proximity
- 30cm ruler (土 0.1 cm)
- 1metre tape
- Compus
- Measurement grid (1cm per square)

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Method
Figure 2: A grid overlaid over Figure 1 to show the different locations used during measurement..

Light Intensity readings were taken at 5 different heights at 6 different angles per tree. The
locations were chosen as they were assumed to have different light intensities due its location on a
slope which gives variation in shade from other plants and soil type. From each of the locations, 5
trees were picked. Using a ruler, tape and compass, each section would be measured for its
quantity of lichen which was grown. To do this, the ruler would be used in order to measure the
correct height, and the tape would record the length of the circumference per height. The most
important equipment would be the measurement grid which would be placed onto the selected
section and which was being taken from and each 1cm square which contained foliose lichen
would be counted, this would be done around 9-12 times per circumference in order to collect the
whole data using a measurement grid.

Risk Assessment

Safety Issues
No hard or dangerous chemicals or tasks took place during this experiment.

Ethical Issues
There were no ethical issues tied to this experiment as there were no animals involved in any
stage of the experiment and the measurement of lichen did not affect its natural growth cycle
therefore could cause no long term effects to the species and its environment.

Environmental Issues
There were no environmental issues which could have a great impact on its surroundings. It's
environment was distrubed due to constant usage of certain parts of the trees, however no
physical damage to its habitat took place.

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Raw Data
Table 1: Surface area VS Light intensity (± 1 lux) of each height banned which contains lichen
HEIGHT/ SURFACE AREA / cm2 Vs. LIGHT INTENSITY (± 1 lux)
CIRCUMFE
RENCE
(cm±0.5)

60-63CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Tree A 4 5575 20 4735 7 3258 6 2977 0 4218 0 6154

Tree B 3 5777 10 4560 10 2493 5 3778 0 4810 0 6191

Tree C 4 6319 15 5141 7 3192 5 3028 5 5175 0 7060

Tree D 4 5257 11 4451 9 3790 9 3341 3 4709 0 7658

Tree E 3 5774 12 4130 4 3769 7 3341 4 4675 0 6103

80-62CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Tree A 3 6722 10 4635 28 3953 3 2051 0 4067 1 6615

Tree B 4 5816 6 3538 33 2827 11 3849 0 4491 3 7372

Tree C 6 5622 8 3333 37 3375 37 3395 5 5366 2 7986

Tree D 2 6982 8 43521 0 2176 11 2153 0 5932 2 7512

Tree E 0 5573 9 4682 0 2740 0 3035 0 51492 1 7748

120-40.6CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Tree A 8 5044 4 4438 2 2844 0 2321 0 5947 2 6054

Tree B 7 5484 3 4794 0 3405 0 3820 0 4271 4 6754

Tree C 7 6277 5 4661 0 3154 0 3615 0 4515 3 7360

Tree D 9 5975 4 3145 0 2460 0 2212 0 5788 2 8761

Tree E 8 5649 3 2994 0 3193 0 3090 5 5892 3 7038

140-23.9CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Tree A 7 6078 7 2822 17 2351 0 2024 13 5007 4 6327

Tree B 8 5160 8 3742 29 3570 32 3878 17 4661 6 7259

Tree C 8 6170 6 4765 19 2853 12 4037 12 5552 0 7369

Tree D 9 6263 5 5032 20 3632 100 3851 33 5659 3 7693

Tree E 37 6130 6 4530 23 3160 16 3289 12 5995 0 8393

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Table 4: Surface area VS Light intensity (± 1 lux) of each height banned which contains lichen

HEIGH/ SURFACE AREA / cm2 Vs. LIGHT INTENSITY (± 1 lux)

CIRCU
MFERE
NCE
(cm±0.5)

180-23.5 NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o
CM

Tree A 32 6023 4 5637 35 3036 19 4109 34 4345 0 6178

Tree B 20 5951 8 4859 32 3811 66 3177 31 4431 0 7038

Tree C 27 5839 8 5179 52 3299 87 2422 28 3499 0 7088

Tree D 24 5081 1 5326 82 2742 53 4077 35 4018 0 6965

Tree E 23 5046 2 4104 47 2981 53 3993 34 4145 0 7218

220-23.2 NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o
CM

Tree A 0 7667 0 4797 37 2954 31 3567 17 4597 0 8497

Tree B 8 6951 0 4859 14 2811 40 3177 12 5431 0 8038

Tree C 0 5260 0 5586 12 3032 37 3297 15 5951 0 7503

Tree D 0 6375 0 6040 87 3680 30 2735 14 4625 0 6155

Tree E 0 5703 6 5948 3 3661 35 3106 15 5838 0 7948

Qualitative data
While measuring certain bands (section of heights) on the trees, I could see that certain heights
and angles of circumference were more in the shade (and therefore had a lower light intensity)
and there grew less than the leaves that were in direct sunlight. Furthermore, specifically foliose,
had a higher rate of growth of the branches rather than the trunks due to higher light intensity in
contrast to the lichen which were more in the shade were also thicker and rougher to touch.

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Processed data
Table 5: Average surface area VS light intensity of each height banned which contains lichen

HEIGHT/ AVERAGE SURFACE AREA / cm2 Vs. LIGHT INTENSITY (±0.2 lux)
CIRCUMFE
RENCE
(cm±0.5)

60-63CM NORTH / 0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band A 3.5 13.6 7.4 6.4 2.4 0

5740.4 4603.4 3300.4 4717.4 6633.2

3293

80-62CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band B 3 6143 8.2 11941.8 19.6 3014.2 12.4 2896.6 1 14269.6 1.8 7446.6

120-40.6CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band C 7.8 3.8 0.4 0 1 5282.6 2.8

5685.8 4006.4 3011.2 3011.6 7193.4

140-23.9CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band D 13.8 6.4 21.6 32 17.4 2.6

5960.2 4178.2 3113.2 3415.8 5374.8 7408.2

180-23.5CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o ESE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band E 25.2 4.6 49.6 55.6 32.4 0

5588 3173.8 4087.6 6897.4
5021 3555.6

220-23.2CM NORTH/0o NNE / 60o SE / 120o S / 180o WSW / 240o 300o

Band F 1.6 1.2 30.6 34.6 14.5 0

6391.2 5446 3194 7628.2
3227.6 5151

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Figure 3: The relationship between average light intensity (土1 lux) and average absorbance (AU).

The error bars shown in Figure 3 correspond to the standard deviation shown in Table 4.

Conclusion
The results support my hypothesis and they also show lichen’s shade tolerance; the higher surface
area shown at lower light intensities shows that lichen can exist at lower light intensities and is
thus shade-tolerant. The error bars shown in the graph are relatively small, which could mean that
my results are fairly accurate.

Evaluation
Overall the experiment went fairly well, with much care to ensure the measurement and data were as
precise and reliable as possible to ensure that an accurate average could be obtained. The experiment
provided clear results which allowed various sources of data to be produced in order to carefully obtain
and provide a clear conclusion. This conclusion was supported by data found online, which aligned to the
validity of the experiment. However, there are a few errors that could have occurred which could have
affected the accuracy of the data.

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Area of Error
Light intensity was not measured
precisely at certain times of day-
sometimes it would be off time
scale
Inaccurate measurement of bands
Variations between the leaves
- Foliose Lichen
- Other types of Lichen
Differentiation in tree feature
Problems
- Inaccuracies in the data
which are caused by the
light intensity being
measured in the wrong
time of day.
- Certain data of
bands(sections which were
measures) are not accurate
due to lack of accuracy
when reading height,
allowing incorrect data to
be analysed due to wrong
band on tree.
- Variations between the
lichen could lead to the
wrongful examination of
other types of lichen
which are similar to
foliose which damages the
resulting data.
- Chosen trees had
differences such as shade
variation, but have a larger
quantity of similarities
rather than differences
between trees which does
not allow for comparison
or contacts.
- Speculation is limited.
Possible Solutions
- By measuring the light
intensity right at the same
time per day, it ensures
reading is accurate and
reliable.
- Using a ruler to measure
from ground level to a
certain height band so that
band section will be
reliable.
- Critically selecting only
lichen which abide by
certain characteristics and
features of foliose.
- Chosen trees have more
defined similarities which
could allow for a greater
choice of results.

Bibliography
Armstrong, W.P. “Foliose Lichen.” Wayne's word, 2005.
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/.

Fabio. “Foliose Lichen.” Learn About Nature, May 23, 2022.

https://www.learnaboutnature.com/plants/lichens/foliose-lichen/.

“Plant of the Week.” Lichens, Foliose. Accessed October 24, 2022.

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/foliose-lichens.aspx.

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