** \[ up: [[Life (Biology)]] – [[Algae]] – [[Bacteria]] – [[Fungi]] ]** --- # Lichens [[“To this day, new ecosystems on land are founded by fungi.”|Lichens (pronounced LY-kens) are “a union of fungi and algae or bacteria”.]][^1] --- ## Terraforming/Soil creating [[“To this day, new ecosystems on land are founded by fungi.”|“When volcanic islands are made or glaciers retreat to reveal bare rock, lichens […] are the first organisms to establish themselves, and to make the soil in which plants subsequently take root.”]][^2] [^1]: Merlin Sheldrake, *[[Sheldrake. 'Entangled Life', 2021.|Entangled Life]]* (UK: Vintage, 2021), p. 4. [^2]: Merlin Sheldrake, *[[Sheldrake. 'Entangled Life', 2021.|Entangled Life]]* (UK: Vintage, 2021), pp. 4–5.