Textures of Symbiosis
The point of attachment between the bracket fungus Fomitopsis betulina and its 'host' birch tree. Identification of this fungus wasn't difficult - it is found almost exclusively in birch woodland, which is exactly where I was!
Although many would think of the term symbiosis as something good, in fact symbiosis generally describes various types of close association between two organisms - the symbiotic relationship in this case is one of parasitism, as the mycelium of the fungus invades the birch tree to extract nutrients.
I hadn't set out to produce a 'macro pano', but photographed several different views of the attachment using focus stacks, and found that they combined together quite nicely to show the lovely textures, including some lichen on the birch tree.
The lichen itself is another example of symbiosis, but is an example of mutualism where both organisms benefit from the association. Lichens come in a wide variety of shapes, forms and colours, but are a composite organism containing algae cells living inside a fungus. The body of the fungus provides protection for the algae cells which perform photosynthesis and provide the fungus with nutrients.
Textures of Symbiosis
The point of attachment between the bracket fungus Fomitopsis betulina and its 'host' birch tree. Identification of this fungus wasn't difficult - it is found almost exclusively in birch woodland, which is exactly where I was!
Although many would think of the term symbiosis as something good, in fact symbiosis generally describes various types of close association between two organisms - the symbiotic relationship in this case is one of parasitism, as the mycelium of the fungus invades the birch tree to extract nutrients.
I hadn't set out to produce a 'macro pano', but photographed several different views of the attachment using focus stacks, and found that they combined together quite nicely to show the lovely textures, including some lichen on the birch tree.
The lichen itself is another example of symbiosis, but is an example of mutualism where both organisms benefit from the association. Lichens come in a wide variety of shapes, forms and colours, but are a composite organism containing algae cells living inside a fungus. The body of the fungus provides protection for the algae cells which perform photosynthesis and provide the fungus with nutrients.