Part of a series of articles titled The Midden - Great Basin National Park: Vol. 17, No. 2, Winter 2017.
Article • The Midden - Great Basin National Park: Vol. 17, No. 2, Winter 2017
Lichen BioBlitz Adds New Insights into Distribution
This article was originally published in The Midden – Great Basin National Park: Vol. 17, No. 2 , Winter 2017.
NPS Photo by G. Baker
The Lichen BioBlitz held July 17- 19, 2017 at Great Basin National Park (GBNP) attracted roughly 50 participants. In addition to a handful of professional biologists who specialize in lichens, the participants came from a wide range of backgrounds and included some youth and a few local residents. Most of the participants had little or no prior knowledge of lichens but all brought an enthusiasm for natural history and an interest in learning.
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
Another interesting aspect of the lichen communities found in GBNP is that there are so few lichens on trees. Only about 26 species have been found on trees in the park thus far. In most environments, lichens on trees are abundant and in many instances they are dominant enough to account for most of the species present. It is well known that air pollution negatively affects lichens on trees but that is not a major factor in eastern Nevada. The best explanation for the absence of lichens on trees appears to be the aridity of the Great Basin.
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NPS Photo
Overall, at least 123 lichen species are known to occur within park boundaries. There is no doubt that more are present, and quite a few will be added when the results of the BioBlitz are finally tallied. Between my survey and the BioBlitz, most of the plant communities and the major geological formations in the park have been explored. The most promising remaining areas for locating additional species appear to be at the southern end of the park where numerous geological formations intersect and road access is more limited.
Last updated: March 4, 2024