Lithobiont

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Lithobionts (from ancient Greek : λίθος lithos , "stone" and βιός bios , " life ") are organisms that colonize rocks .

Epilithe are Lithobionten, on rock surfaces live. On the other hand, endoliths are organisms that colonize the interior of the rock . Plants that settle on rocks are called lithophytes . Common lithobionts are, for example, fungi , lichens , mosses , cyanobacteria and diatoms .

Lithobionts contribute to the decomposition of minerals and organic components through chemical-biological weathering and after a long time they form rock or crevice humus.

Karrenfeld in the Dolomites: Typical habitat for lithobionts.
Community of different lithophytes with Davallia canariensis on volcanic rock

Due to the chemical leaching out of certain rock components, the surface of a stone on which lithobionts have settled consists after some time of a sponge-like perforated silicate framework with a surface that is many times larger. The Aspergillus niger fungus even breaks down glass . Microbial traces in the rock that are visible to the eye are called ink strokes .

A lithobiontische biocenosis can in a with time edaphic convert it forms with flagellates , ciliates , actinomycetes (u. A.) The Edaphon by Protodetritus- and Detritusphasen . The struggle for existence of the microorganisms forms residues in this phase, from which humic substances slowly develop . Mosses grow on this plant germ bed, lichens (especially Laminaria ) settle on ink strokes. Grasses and ferns bind trickling debris and detritus flakes. They form the 5th to 7th generation among the lithobionts.

The Lithobiontik is a geoscientific research branch. Areas of application are e.g. B. microbial leaching or the investigation of the involvement of microorganisms in the formation and diagenesis of rocks and deposits .

Are key organisms on stones