Elliptochloris bilobata is a widely distributed free-living species. After numerous records of this alga on granite rock outcrops (Mikhailyuk et al. 2003; Mikhailyuk 2008, 2013), where it often dominates (Mikhailyuk et al. 2003; Mikhailyuk 2008) and even forms macroscopic growths (Mikhailyuk 2008). Mikhailyuk (2008) hypothesized a preference for rocky substrates in this genus. However, E. bilobata is much more commonly found in soils of various climates, especially in forests (Hoffmann et al. 2007; Temraleeva et al. 2015; Dirborne & Ramanujam 2017; Glaser et al. 2018). The species is also abundant in the soil of tundra (Andreyeva 2004, 2005; Andreyeva & Chaplygina 2007; Novakovskaya et al. 2012; Novakovskaya & Patova 2013; Patova & Novakovskaya 2018; Novakovskaya et al. 2020), whereas no occurrence in the desert has been recorded. Similarly to other photobiont species (see Diplosphaera chodatii below), E. bilobata shows a broad tolerance to air pollution and thus thrives in the highly polluted centre of Leipzig, Germany (Freystein et al. 2008). Furthermore, this alga is encountered in Antarctica (Garraza et al. 2011; Borchhardt et al. 2017) and has been identified in caves (Vinogradova et al. 2009). Another symbiotic member of Elliptochloris is E. perforata, which occurs free-living on bark, epilithic on tombstone (Darienko et al. 2016), and in soil (Hoffmann et al. 2007; Samolov et al. 2020). A different species, E. reniformis, is also common in soil (Lukešová 2001; Neustupa & Škaloud 2005; Khaybullina et al. 2010; Temraleeva et al. 2015; Darienko et al. 2016; Novakovskaya et al. 2020). Additionally, the species was reported from rocks (Johansen et al. 2007) and from building facades (Hofbauer & Gärtner 2021). In addition, E. subsphaerica is a very versatile species confirmed from lichen thalli (Voytsekhovich et al. 2011; Masumoto 2020) as well as from many different types of substrates. It is frequently reported from soil (Zancan et al. 2006; Hoffmann et al. 2007; Takeshita et al. 2010; Schulz et al. 2016; Samolov et al. 2020) even from soil in heavily anthropogenically affected areas (Lukešová 2001; Neustupa & Škaloud 2005) and city centres (Rindi & Guiry 2003; Freystein et al. 2008). Other substrates include tree bark (Freystein et al. 2008; Neustupa & Škaloud 2010; Masumoto 2020), building facades (Hofbauer 2007; Hofbauer & Gärtner 2021) and rocks (Rifón-Lastra & Noguerol-Seoane 2001; Johansen et al. 2007; Mikhailyuk 2013; Mikhailyuk et al. 2018a). Furthermore, E. subsphaerica represents the dominant species in some studies (Mikhailyuk et al. 2003; Mikhailyuk 2008; Novakovskaya et al. 2020). It was also observed in pine litter (Maltsev & Maltseva 2018).

Published as part of Veselá, Veronika, Malavasi, Veronica & Škaloud, Pavel, 2024, A synopsis of green-algal lichen symbionts with an emphasis on their free-living lifestyle, pp. 317-338 in Phycologia 63 (3) on pages 324-325, DOI: 10.1080/00318884.2024.2325329, http://zenodo.org/record/15520507