A lichen is an organism that structurally appears to be a single organism. But a lichen is actually two different organisms-a fungus and green algae-living together as one organism. The fungal partner derives its nutrition from the photosynthesizing algae. How does a lichen differ in its photosynthetic activity from Elysia chlorotica, the sea slug that's considered to be a photosynthesizing animal?

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27 May, 15:24

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Reynaldo Ross · Answer 1

The fungi of the lichen relies on the algae for food in order to survive, on the other hand the slug is able to produce its own if necessary.

Dana Farley · Answer 2

Lichens can photosynthesize only because of the living algal partner, while Elysia chlorotica incorporates chloroplasts from algae into its cells.