Have you ever noticed the colorful growths on trees and rocks but weren’t sure what they were? Lichens are all around us yet often overlooked. They play important roles in ecosystems and can even indicate air quality. Many people don’t fully understand these symbiotic organisms or appreciate their significance.
In this episode, you’ll learn about the fascinating world of lichens from lichenologist Dr. Jessica Allen. We discuss what lichens are, their importance in nature, how they live, and how we can appreciate these miniature ecosystems all around us. You’ll come away seeing lichens in a whole new light!
Topics covered in this episode:
- What are lichens?
- Lichens as miniature ecosystems harboring diverse microorganisms
- Important roles of lichens
- How lichens live on a wide range of surfaces and obtain nutrients
- Using lichens to monitor air quality
- The varied lifespans of lichens
- Uses of lichens from dyes to medicine
- Lichen myths
- At-home microbiology activities: 3 hands-on activities to explore and appreciate lichen diversity
Listen to my episode with Dr. Jessica Allen
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Links & Resources
This post contains affiliate links — see my disclosure policy.
- Lichens of North America by Irwin M. Brodo, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff, Stephen Sharnoff (reference book)
- Urban Lichens by Dr. Jessica Allen
- Find a regional field guide to learn more about lichens in your area (a few examples below)
- Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest by Bruce McCune, Linda Geiser
- Field Guide to the Lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Erin Tripp, James Lendemer
- Field Guide to the Lichens of White Rocks: (Boulder, Colorado) by Erin Tripp
- Common Mosses, Liverworts, and Lichens of Ohio by Robert Klips
- A Field Guide to California Lichens by Stephen Sharnoff
- Articles based on this episode:
- Lichens 101: What They Are & Why They Matter
- At-home microbiology activities: Discovering Lichens (3 Hands-On Activities)
- Next Time You Go Hikin’ Look For A Lichen (article)
- Introduction to Lichens: Dr. Klara Scharnagl (podcast episode)
Connect with Dr. Jessica Allen
Dr. Jessica Allen is an integrative fungal biologist who studies the causes and consequences of rarity in lichens. She earned her PhD from The New York Botanical Garden and the City University of New York Graduate Center. Her Post-Doctoral work was conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research. In her work now she integrates field, laboratory and analytical work to address outstanding questions in fungal evolution and conservation. She currently works as an Associate Professor at Eastern Washington University and serves as the co-Chair for the IUCN Lichen Specialist Group.
Connect with Dr. Jessica Allen: Website, Publications, ResearchGate, Instagram, Twitter
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