Lichen Photobionts = the photosynthetic partners of lichens

An important role of lichens adaptation to environment is attributed to their photobionts (unicellular green algae or cyanobacteria). The photobionts can be seen as the batteries of a lichen providing both food and protection against dessication for the fungal partner and potentially to other lichen-associated organisms.

Despite their pivotal role in lichen symbiosis, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding the biology, ecology and evolution of lichen photobionts. Their life cycles are only beginning to be understood, and we still know very little about their adaptive and physiological capacities at both the cellular and molecular levels. The number of species, their phylogenetic relationships, and their distribution ranges also remain unclear.

In my research group, we aim to address critical knowledge gaps with a current focus on several fundamental aspects:

1. We are examining how lichens in general—and photobiont communities in particular—are affected by pollutants from the LKAB iron ore mine in Kiruna, Sweden. This project is conducted in collaboration with the University of Oslo, LKAB, and the Laevas Sámi village.
2. We are investigating the phylogeny, molecular, physiological, and genomic characteristics of green algal photobionts from the genera Trebouxia and Asterochloris, in collaboration with several European universities.
3. We are exploring the dispersal mechanisms of lichen photobionts using a combination of population genomics and long-read amplicon sequencing.
4. We are studying how seasonal changes and climatic variation along a Swedish gradient influence photobiont communities. This project is carried out in collaboration with the University of Oslo.