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Let's trace how a Lichen survives on a bare rock. Step 1: A fungal spore and an algal cell land on a rock. Step 2: The Fungus (Mycobiont) wraps its hyphae around the Alga (Phycobiont) to anchor them to the rock. Step 3: The Fungus releases special acids to slowly break down the hard rock, turning it into tiny bits of minerals. Step 4: The Alga uses sunlight to make sugar (food). Step 5: The Alga gives some sugar to the Fungus. Step 6: The Fungus takes the minerals from the broken rock and water from the air and gives them to the Alga. Step 7: They both grow together, creating a beautiful crusty patch on the rock surface.