Lichens around the world: a comprehensive study of lichen survival biostrategies detected by Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

A list of lichen biomolecules detected by Raman spectroscopy has been compiled and their appearance has been correlated with the environmental conditions operating in lichen habitats around the world. The adaptative climatic strategies of lichens have been analysed as a whole and some interesting and contradictory conclusions arise with regard to other research conclusions reported in the literature, such as the presence of hydrated calcium oxalates and their relationship with desiccated environments or the correlation between climatic conditions and protective pigments or pigment mixtures. The results of this exercise will be useful for our understanding of the biochemical synthetic strategies being employed for the survival of the lichen colonies in hostile terrestrial environments and the prediction of Raman spectral data for extremophiles in a range of novel hot and cold desert conditions. Additionally, a database of all key lichen biomolecules identified by Raman spectroscopy and their characteristic Raman wavenumbers are given for further unambiguous identification.