Algae & cyanobacteria
Colonising lime mortar
A range of lichens, green algae and cyanobacteria have colonised this mixed sandstone and brick wall, which faces west. Here, we concentrate on the lime mortar. This traditional material is softer than modern cement and is colonised more rapidly.
Photograph detail
Slide 1: Sandstone and brick wall, built with lime mortar. Late 19th to early 20th century. Redmire village. The white lichen on the stone is Aspicilia calcarea, common locally on drystone walls. December.
Slide 2: A mixed community of the lichens Leprocaulon calcicola (white) and Candelariella aurella (yellow). Associated with these lichens is a cyanobacteria (black), possibly Nostoc. December.
Slide 3: Leprocaulon calcicola with Cyanobacteria, possibly Nostoc. The green areas are algal cells. December.
Slide 4: Algal cells collected from lime mortar. Photographed at x1000, oil immersion and brightfield. December.
Slide 5: Cyanobacterial cells, possibly Nostoc, collected from lime mortar. Photographed at x1000, oil immersion and brightfield. December.
Slide 6: Cyanobacterial cells, possibly Nostoc, and green algal cells, collected from lime mortar. Photographed at x1000, oil immersion and brightfield. December.