Symbionts out of sync: Decoupled physiological responses are widespread and ecologically important in lichen associations

Authors: Abigail R. Meyer, Natália M. Koch, Tami McDonald, Daniel E. Stanton

Published: 2024-06-14

Abstract

A core vulnerability in symbioses is the need for coordination between the symbiotic partners, which are often assumed to be closely physiologically integrated. We critically re-examine this assumed integration between symbionts in lichen symbioses, recovering a long overlooked yet fundamental physiological asymmetry in carbon balance. We examine the physiological, ecological, and transcriptional basis of this asymmetry in the lichen