Sensitive Species # of Lichens Lichen, it’s a Lifestyle Lichens get their food from light, air and rain so they are easily damaged by pollutants in the 0 1-4 5-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40+ Although lichens are diverse, lichens can be found in three major forms. air. Scientists study lichens to learn about air pollution. The healthier the air, the more species of lichen there will be. 1) On your hike, count how many different lichens you can find. Check the box next to each lichen form you find on your hike. 2) Based on your findings, would you consider the area to have good or bad air quality? Air Quality: Crustose Foliose Fruticose Crustose lichens are thin like crust. The lichen’s edges stay flat Foliose lichens look like dry, wavy foliage (leaves). The Fruticose lichens are the most three-dimensional against the object it is growing on. Crustose lichens grow slowly edges curl off the surface the lichen is growing on. lichens. Some look like mini fruit trees without and some are among the oldest living organisms on Earth! leaves while others hang down from branches like hair. Porpidia Porpidia cf. albocaerulescens Ramalina Punctelia Ramalina culbersoniorum Punctelia rudecta Many lichens don’t have a common name. What What would you would you name this lichen? James Lendemer name this lichen? _________________________ ______________ Andy Moroz Powdered Ruffle Lichen Script Lichen Parmotrema hypotropum Erin Tripp Andy Moroz Graphis scripta Look for little black Pixie Cup Lichen ‘hairs’ called cilia! Cladonia chlorophaea James Lendemer Kate Deregibus Kate Erin Tripp Old Man’s Beard Gold Dust Lichen Lungwort Lichen Usnea dasaea Chrysothryix xanthina Lobaria pulmonaria Lichens come in many shapes, sizes and... colors! Tiny Pioneers What colors of lichens can you find? Crustose lichens are nature’s pioneers because Leading the Way ____________________________ they can grow in places that are too extreme Without lichens, plants may not grow in some places. ____________________________ for most other organisms. Severe heat, cold Lichens are often the first to grow on bare rock. Over time, and drought are no match for lichens because lichens are able to break down rock and produce thin layers lichens are able to go dormant, or “turn off,” of soil. More complex lichens, mosses and flowering plants Most questions about basic lichen during harsh conditions. What kind of surfaces are then able to take root. Find a community of lichens and Lichens, biology remain unknown. The real can you find lichens growing on that plants are describe the layers of lichens you see. The Next Frontier mystery begins when lichens are studied not growing on? __________________________________________________ under a microscope. Will you be the next _____________________________________ __________________________________________________ scientist to make a lichen discovery? Elise A. Kahl Hikin’ to Find Alice Algae TRACK your hike at kidsinparks.com & Freddy Fungi Lichen and get FREE prizes! the story of how lichen came to be What IS that? Moss? Ugly worms... An alien spaceship ?!? it’s lichen! Together, some fungus and algae Together, Alice Algae and Freddy fungi form an create an organism called lichen. In a symbiotic relationship, organism called lichen. Here is their story... Thanks for joining the algae and fungus both help each other survive. The Freddy the Fungus was a One day, Freddy Fungi Southern Appalachian Mountains have a high diversity of great builder... smelled something delicious... us today! lichens and scientists are always finding new species! ...but all that hard Visit our website work made him hungry. ...so he ran. to find more TRACK Trail™ He met Alice Algae. Alice Algae thought Surprise! adventures near you! Using the sun’s energy... Freddy was a fun-guy. Follow us! ™ ...she was cooking sugar through @KidsInParks the process of photosynthesis. Freddy took a likin’ to Alice. Freddy Fungus went Better together, Freddy and out on a limb... Alice announced their symbiotic relationship in a ceremony. @KidsInParks @KidsInParksBRPF Use this brochure to discover the life of lichens and how to identify them. be careful not to touch Lichens I now because they are fragile. ...by building a nice pronounce Kids in Parks is a program of the home for them. you LICHEN!.