Why doesn't lichen grow as much on pine trees?

Answer 1

i agree with professor armitage; however, lichen (fungus) grows in abundance on and around rotting deciduous wood. i think that since pine trees do not shed their needles and "fall asleep" like deciduous trees do, there is a lower liklihood to find lichen on them. however, there are some species that rely on pine trees: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/F/Fungi.html

Answer 2

Typically a fungus will grow with an algae or cyanobacterium because of the accelerated growth rate of these organism necessary for the symbiosis to continue with the fungi. Pine trees are too large for the fungi and do not have the accelerated growth of an algae or cyanobacteria. Algae grows very fast and is one of the fastest growing organism in that category or similar categories of life.

Also, pine trees are very resinous. Ever notice a thick smell near a pine tree versus other trees? The more copious amounts of sap and pollen and so forth is going to reduce some of these other organisms growing on them as almost, say, an insect repellent would.

Answer 3

Lichen is a small plant, and different species of it grow just about anywhere in the world, including the arctic. It is not a tree. Taiga is a type of terrain, not a tree.