Algea and moss

Algea and mossn

Green deposits always start with algea growth. Algea like moist places without sunlight. Algea will start growing naturally in these places, and will do so for long periods of time if they are undisturbed. Algea are sometimes called CO2-scavengers because they take CO2 from the atmosfere and use it to produce oxygen. When the algea have covered a surface, the growth of moss (lichens) will start. The algea and moss live in symbiosis; meaning they rely on each other to survive. Algea provide mosses with essential organic compounds using photofynthesis, while the mosses protect the underlying algea. Mosses are made up of algea and funghi. The funghi are produced by the algea using resources from the surface and the atmosphere. The type of funghi and mosses that form depends on the type of environment they live in.

Fun fact: mosses can be used to measure the air-quality of the surounding area. Depending on the type of mosses that are found, one can determine whether the air is contaminated with for example:
– Carbondioxide (CO2), from powerplants and oil production
– Sulfurdioxide (SO2), from powerplants and traffic
– Ammonia, from agriculture