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Lichen Habitat

June 9, 2023
written by Sidra Batool

Lichens primarily grow on trees, rocks, soil, tree bark, dead wood, metal, bones, glass, plastic, cloth, and man-made objects like houses, cars, and tombstones. Their adaptive nature allows them to colonize diverse substrates.

Where Lichens Live?

Lichens can be found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, and even rocky surfaces.

They are able to survive in diverse environments such as trees, rocks, soil, and even on man-made structures like buildings and fences.

Here are the habitats of different types of lichens:

Fruticose Lichen Habitat

Fruticose lichens are widely present in wet and humid climates, temperate rainforests, and arid conditions across the globe.

They are most commonly distributed in mountains, forests, and Arctic tundra. The accumulation rate of lichen varies across different environments.

Reindeer Lichen Habitat

Reindeer lichens are widely found in vast areas of the northern tundra and taiga ecosystems. They serve as important grazing grounds for reindeer, moose, caribou, and musk oxen.

These lichens, consists of multiple species, cover expansive stretches of land in the Arctic tundra, Canadian boreal forest, and also grow on mountains.

Crustose Lichen Habitat

Crustose lichens are found in various areas, including on the surfaces of leaves of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs along with epiphytic algae and liverworts.

They also thrive in carbonate-rich karst areas, benefiting from the stability and nutrient availability provided by these environments.

Foliose Lichen Habitat

Foliose lichens are primarily found in the trunks of trees and rocks in shady woodland environments.

Lichens can survive in a wide range of climates, from cold and dry mountainous regions to wet and warm valleys.

British Soldier Lichen Habitat

The British soldier lichen can be found in many places, like mossy logs, the bottom of trees, and stumps. It is native to North America and is quite common in Virginia.

This type of lichen is able to survive in different habitats and is often seen in similar areas. It is known for being tough and can be found in other places with similar conditions.

Wolf Lichen Habitat

Wolf lichen can be found in the habitat of both living and dead conifers, specifically on their bark.

It can be found in regions such as western and continental Europe, the Pacific Northwest, and the northern Rocky Mountains of Western North America.