TY - JOUR
T1 - A lichen protected by a super-hydrophobic and breathable structure
AU - Shirtcliffe, Neil
AU - Pyatt, F. Brian
AU - Newton, Michael
AU - McHale, Glen
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - A species of lichen, Lecanora conizaeoides, is shown to be super-hydrophobic. It uses a combination of hydrophobic compounds and multi-layered roughness to shed water effectively. This is combined with gas channels to produce a biological analogue of a waterproof, breathable garment. The particular lichen grows mostly during wet seasons and is unusually resistant to acid rain [Hauck, M., 2003. The Bryotogist 106(2), 257-269; Honegger, R., 1998. Lichenologist 30(3),193-212]. The waterproof, breathable surface allows this lichen to photosynthesise when other species are covered with a layer of water. In addition, rainwater runs off the surface of the organism, reducing its intake of water from above and probably contributing to its resistance to acid rain.
AB - A species of lichen, Lecanora conizaeoides, is shown to be super-hydrophobic. It uses a combination of hydrophobic compounds and multi-layered roughness to shed water effectively. This is combined with gas channels to produce a biological analogue of a waterproof, breathable garment. The particular lichen grows mostly during wet seasons and is unusually resistant to acid rain [Hauck, M., 2003. The Bryotogist 106(2), 257-269; Honegger, R., 1998. Lichenologist 30(3),193-212]. The waterproof, breathable surface allows this lichen to photosynthesise when other species are covered with a layer of water. In addition, rainwater runs off the surface of the organism, reducing its intake of water from above and probably contributing to its resistance to acid rain.
KW - acid rain
KW - breathable
KW - fungus
U2 - 10.1016/j.jplph.2005.11.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jplph.2005.11.007
M3 - Article
SN - 0176-1617
VL - 163
SP - 1193
EP - 1197
JO - Journal of Plant Physiology
JF - Journal of Plant Physiology
IS - 11
ER -