Question

A location with luxuriant growth of lichens on the trees indicates that the

• A. location is highly polluted
• B. trees are heavily infested
• C. location is not polluted
• D. trees are very healthy

Answer 1

The correct option is C location is not polluted

• Lichens are the symbiotic association between algae and fungi.
• The algae prepares food and the fungi helps in the absorption of the raw materials.
• Lichens cannot survive in the presence of pollutants such as oxides of sulphur.
• Thereby, they can act as natural indicators of pollution as they can only grow in pollution-free areas.
• If a location exhibits luxuriant growth of lichens, then it is indicated that the location is not polluted.