I don’t get it-lichens normally grow on rocks. Are asphalt roof shingles sufficiently nutritious? I once read that lichens are very susceptible to air pollution-but here they are, living off oil-derived asphalt. Maybe they are tougher than we think?
Anyway, are they bad for the roof?
The asphalt holds the mineral surface (little rocks) in place. Without that UV would eat up the shingles even faster than it already does.
Lichens are a composite organism consisting of a fungus and (typically) algae living in a symbiotic relationship. They don’t feed off of the surface they grow on – the algae provides photosynthetic food and the fungus provides structure.
Yup. Luchen need very little other than a bit of water in the air and enough sunshine. The answer to your question is that Lichen can grow almost anywhere, on almost anything.
Hmm, I’m lichen the sound of this.
“Lichen keeps growin’ on my roof
But that doesn’t mean that my shingles are uncouth”
They lichen themselves to reindeer.
I"m sure there’s a lycan joke in there somewhere, but damned if I can find it…
S^G
Lichen is eventually bad for the roof. Not a huge concern, but the roots will deteriorate the shingles and loosen the granules.