Lichens look like moss. but they’re actually two organisms—usually fungi and algae—that live together in a mutualistic relationship. the fungi provide a sheltered place for the algae to grow and reproduce. what do you think the algae offer that the fungi can’t do?

The algae increase the autotrophy by offering photosynthesis to the fungi in the lichen organism.

A lichen is an organism consisting of a symbiotic association between a fungus (the mycobiont) and algae. The mushroom brings water and mineral salts. The alga produces, by photosynthesis, various organic compounds of which it gives a part to the mushroom.