Lichina pygmaea

Lichina pygmaea grows on rocks in the marine splash zone, the area of the rocky shore regularly wetted by wave spray and seawater. It occupies a narrow ecological band adapted to repeated saltwater wetting, drying cycles, and wave exposure along rocky coastlines.

Yes, L. pygmaea contains cyanobacteria as its photobiont, which allows it to fix atmospheric nitrogen in addition to photosynthesis. This cyanobacterial partnership contributes to its ability to survive in the nutrient-scoured, physically demanding environment of the marine splash zone.

Both species belong to the genus Lichina, but L. pygmaea typically grows in the lower splash zone directly on rocks subject to frequent seawater wetting, while L. confinis is found higher in the supralittoral zone above the main splash area. Their zonation along the shore reflects different tolerances to saltwater immersion and desiccation.

L. pygmaea forms compact, dark brown to black tufts that can withstand repeated wetting by seawater, desiccation between tides, and physical battering from wave spray. Its dense growth form minimizes water loss during drying periods while tolerating the salt concentrations that exclude most other lichens from this zone.