Science Friday What Lichen Tell Us About Ecology, Air Quality, And More
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Jan 9, 2025 Hannah Prather, a postdoctoral researcher at Reed College, and Jesse Miller, lead botanist for the Washington Natural Heritage Program, discuss the intriguing world of lichens. They unveil lichens' crucial role as air quality indicators and their significance in ecosystems, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The conversation touches on the safety of handling lichens, their resilience against urbanization and climate change, and common misconceptions about them. Listeners will discover fascinating insights into the biodiversity lichens help maintain and their adaptive nature.
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Lichen's Ecological Niche
- Lichens have crucial roles in ecosystems, including nutrient cycling, soil stabilization, and hydrological dynamics.
- Their absence would significantly impact the forest, even if not immediately obvious to casual observers.
Lichens as Bio-indicators
- Lichens act as bio-indicators, reflecting environmental conditions like air quality.
- Their morphology, specifically size, changes in response to pollutants, as they lack protective mechanisms like vascular plants.
Wildfires and Lichens
- Wildfires impact lichens both directly, by burning them, and indirectly, by altering the landscape.
- High-severity fires, which remove most vegetation, have more substantial effects on lichen communities.