Boreal felt lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum)

Description

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Boreal felt lichen fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Boreal felt lichen description

Known as the “panda bear” of lichens because of its extreme rarity, the boreal felt lichen is a ‘leafy’ species that grows on the branches and trunks of tree ^{(2) (3)}. When hydrated it has a bluish-grey colour, but when dry it is more dark grey to greyish-brown. The edges of this lichen typically curl up to expose whitish undersides ⁽²⁾.

Size

Diameter: 2 - 5 cm ⁽²⁾

Boreal felt lichen biology

Lichens consist of two different organisms, a 'mycobiont' (a fungus) and a 'phycobiont' (either an alga, which is a simple plant, or a cyanobacterium, a bacteria that can photosynthesise), which live together in a symbiotic association ⁽⁵⁾. The phycobiont in the boreal felt lichen is a cyanobacteria. The presence of the cyanobacteria makes the boreal felt lichen particularly sensitive to atmospheric pollution such as acid rain ⁽²⁾.

Boreal felt lichen range

The boreal felt lichen was formerly known from Norway, Sweden, and Canada (a boreal population on New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and an Atlantic population on Newfoundland) ^{(1) (2) (4)}. Today, the species is thought to be restricted to two disjunct populations: the boreal population on Newfoundland, and a vastly depleted Atlantic population on Nova Scotia ^{(1) (2)}.

Boreal felt lichen habitat

The remaining populations are found in cool, moist, old-growth coniferous forest, and grow predominately on the trunks of balsam fir (Abies balsamea). In Europe, it grew in temperate forest, mainly on the twigs of Norway spruce (Pecea abies) ⁽¹⁾.

Boreal felt lichen status

Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Boreal felt lichen threats

In addition to being highly sensitive to atmospheric pollutants such as acid rain, the boreal felt lichen is extremely vulnerable to habitat loss ^{(1) (2)}. Logging not only removes lichen substrate, but also alters the microclimate of the forest, a factor to which this species is particularly susceptible ⁽⁴⁾. Owing to the impacts of habitat loss and air pollution, the Atlantic population has declined by more than 90 percent over the past two decades ^{(2) (3)}.

Boreal felt lichen conservation

The Atlantic population of the boreal felt lichen is protected in Canada under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), and is the focus of an ongoing recovery strategy ⁽²⁾. Crucially, efforts are being made, through land purchases and agreements with landowners, to formally protect areas of forest that are home to this rare species ^{(2) (3)}. Furthermore, conservationists are engaging with private and government forest managers to encourage their participation in the mapping of boreal felt lichen habitat and the implementation of management plans that will prevent further habitat loss ⁽²⁾.

Find out more

To find out more about the conservation of the boreal felt lichen see:

• Species at Risk Public Registry:
  http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=702

Authentication

Glossary

Alga

A collection of taxonomically unrelated groups that share some common features but are grouped together for historical reasons and for convenience. They are of simple construction, and are mainly photoautotrophic, obtaining all their energy from light and carbon dioxide, and possess the photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll A. They range in complexity from microscopic single cells to very complex plant-like forms, such as kelps. Algal groups include blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), red algae (rhodophyta), green algae (chlorophyta), brown algae and diatoms (chromista) as well as euglenophyta.

Cyanobacteria

A group of bacteria that are able to photosynthesise and contain the pigment chlorophyll. They used to be known as 'blue-green algae'. They are thought to have been the first organisms to produce oxygen; fossil cyanobacteria have been found in 3000 million year old rocks. As they are responsible for the oxygen in the atmosphere they have played an essential role in influencing the course of evolution on this planet.

Fungus

Fungi are one of the taxonomic kingdoms, separate from plants and animals. They obtain nutrients by absorbing organic compounds from the surrounding environment.

Photosynthesise

Metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Symbiotic

Relationship in which two organisms form a close association, the term is now usually used only for associations that benefit both organisms (a mutualism).

References

1. IUCN Red List (May, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Species at Risk Public Registry (May, 2009)
   http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=702
3. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (May, 2009)
   http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9311&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=at_ncc_
4. University of Oslo (May, 2003)
   http://www.toyen.uio.no/botanisk/bot-mus/lav/factshts/eriopedi.htm
5. Allaby, M. (1998) Oxford Dictionary of Plant Sciences. Oxford University Press, Oxford.