Analysis of Lichens

Lichens form an essential part of the biomass on earth and contribute considerably to the gas exchange. In order to better model their influence on the climate, it is crucial to improve understanding of the diffusion processes on the micro scale.

The complex microstructure of cryptogames can be imaged spatially using high resolution synchrotron micro-computed tomography. Subsequently, the microstructures can be described exactly and compared using quantitative 3D image analysis. The high variability of the biological microstructures and the huge amount of data to be analysed pose particular challenges.