Pleopsidium chlorophanum (gold cobblestone lichen)[1][2]: 27 is a distinctively colored, bright lemon-yellow to chartreuse[3] crustose lichen, which favors dry arctic or alpine sandstone cliffs and boulders. It is a rare alpine lichen in Europe. It is in the Pleopsidium genus of the Acarosporaceae family.
This lichen is one of the few species able to survive at high altitudes in Antarctica, at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). It is able to cope with high UV, low temperatures and dryness. In its Antarctic habitat, it can be found on the surface, but it is mainly found in cracks, where just a small amount of scattered light reaches it. This is probably an adaptive behaviour to protect it from UV light and desiccation. It remains metabolically active in temperatures down to -20 C, and can absorb small amounts of liquid water in an environment with ice and snow.
It is of especial interest for astrobiology since this is one of the most Mars like environments on the Earth. In a 34-day experiment when placed in a Mars simulation chamber, it continued to photosynthesize, and it adapted to Mars conditions and even adapted physiologically by increasing its photosynthetic activity, and producing new growth.[4]
It is similar to Acarospora schleicheri, which grows on soil (terricolous lichen) and rarely on rock, and to Pleopsidium flavum.[5]: 186 that grows in high elevations (montane to alpine) on vertical or overhanging hard felsic rock (e.g. granite) in western North America.[5]: 186
Its thallus grows in a circular, outwardly radiating pattern (placodioid), with 1mm wide lobed edges.[5]: 186 It differs from Pleopsidium flavum in having a smooth, smaller squamulose thallus and larger apothecia (spore producing structures)[1]
Pleopsidium chlorophanum (gold cobblestone lichen): 27 is a distinctively colored, bright lemon-yellow to chartreuse crustose lichen, which favors dry arctic or alpine sandstone cliffs and boulders. It is a rare alpine lichen in Europe. It is in the Pleopsidium genus of the Acarosporaceae family.
This lichen is one of the few species able to survive at high altitudes in Antarctica, at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). It is able to cope with high UV, low temperatures and dryness. In its Antarctic habitat, it can be found on the surface, but it is mainly found in cracks, where just a small amount of scattered light reaches it. This is probably an adaptive behaviour to protect it from UV light and desiccation. It remains metabolically active in temperatures down to -20 C, and can absorb small amounts of liquid water in an environment with ice and snow.
It is of especial interest for astrobiology since this is one of the most Mars like environments on the Earth. In a 34-day experiment when placed in a Mars simulation chamber, it continued to photosynthesize, and it adapted to Mars conditions and even adapted physiologically by increasing its photosynthetic activity, and producing new growth.
It is similar to Acarospora schleicheri, which grows on soil (terricolous lichen) and rarely on rock, and to Pleopsidium flavum.: 186 that grows in high elevations (montane to alpine) on vertical or overhanging hard felsic rock (e.g. granite) in western North America.: 186
Its thallus grows in a circular, outwardly radiating pattern (placodioid), with 1mm wide lobed edges.: 186 It differs from Pleopsidium flavum in having a smooth, smaller squamulose thallus and larger apothecia (spore producing structures)
