Learning About Lichen

 

Script Lichen

As Florida Master Naturalists, and Interpretive Naturalists, Karl and I continuously attend programs to improve our knowledge of Florida’s natural world. Some of our certifications require the continuing education, others do not. For the most part, our past careers all required continuing education due to the constant change and advancement made in various fields over the years so this "life long learning" as it is now called is something we have always done. We find it fun, entertaining, and challenging.

Recently we attended a program “Life of Lichen” at Brooker Creek Preserve. I noticed this time and also in some recent programs the large amount of new up-to-date information available. After the program I asked the botanist about it. To me, it seems in the last few years more and more research is made available. Part of this is due to the Internet, and the freer exchange of information. Another part which he confirmed comes from the fact that the education requirements to enter the field of science increased over the past decade from a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to a minimum of a master’s degree with PhD usually preferred. Since both require more research, we benefit from these increased requirements.

I learned that my original mnemonic to remember the formation of lichen:

“Freddie Fungus and Alice Algae took a ‘lichen’ to each other” to describe the formation of lichen from the symbiotic relationship between certain type of fungus and algae is now dated. Recent discoveries found that sometimes the relationship is between fungus and bacteria, and can even be fungus, algae and bacteria. In addition, even more recent studies show wild yeast is involved.

This particular class I also look particular note of a lichen called Script lichen. I often see it on trees, but never realized it belonged to the lichen family. The lichen resembles a script language ‘written’ in white oblongs over a colored crust. As we walked along the boardwalk, we found numerous examples in just a short distance.

I will now notice it on all my walks, as I try to figure out a new mnemonic, making sure to include yeast in there somewhere.