Lichens as Indicators

DRAFTING….
– Goldsmith lake Wilderness Area
Project on iNaturalist “Documenting the rich biodiversity of the (proposed) Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area located on the South Mountain of Annapolis County.” Includes many lichens

Comment on the post (DGP): Wow. (Again!). I always thought these lichens were only for the super experts to find, ID…; maybe the latter, but ‘will start to look. Is a hand lens sufficient?
NN: The naked eye is good for spotting them once you get the knack, which is mostly looking sideways on where possible. Then they stand out with their stems and little heads. There’s usually a bristle of them… A hand lens is fine for looking closer. Also a headlamp
or other focused light source for looking in cracks and woodpecker holes. You’re right though that identifying them is far trickier. But perhaps the three we know of from NS who are going to Steve Selva’s stubble lichen Seminar at Eagle Hill in June will come back with some expertise and shareable knowledge.