Scaly breck lichen  (Squamarina lentigera)

Loading loading

Facts – Scaly breck lichen

KingdomFungi
PhylumAscomycota
ClassAscomycetes
OrderLecanorales
FamilyBacidiaceae
GenusSquamarina
SizeDiameter: up to 6 mm.
Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Status – Scaly breck lichen

Classified as Endangered in the UK.

Description – Scaly breck lichen

This rare lichen is circular in shape, and white to pale grey-brown in colour.

Range – Scaly breck lichen

This species is found across most of Europe, from Norway to the Mediterranean, in North America, North Africa and Asia. In the UK it used to be found in East Sussex and the Isle of Wight, but is now confined to just two sites in the East Anglian Breckland.

Habitat – Scaly breck lichen

Scaly Breck lichen is a ground-dwelling lichen, found on sandy, calcareous soil, which is disturbed regularly. Breckland is an area some 1500 square kilometres in extent, characterised by a dry climate, and well-drained light soil. The poor quality of the soil has produced a unique habitat where small, specialist plants and lichens flourish.

Biology – Scaly breck lichen

This lichen is one that grows on the surface of the soil rather than stone or rock. Like most lichens, it is slow-growing and needs a bare area to colonise. It cannot compete with tall plants and requires grazing, either by sheep or rabbits, to maintain a closely cropped sward in order for it to survive.

Threats – Scaly breck lichen

This species has declined through loss of habitat, largely due to a fall in the rabbit population through myxomatosis. This has led to a lack of grazing and reduced opportunities for colonisation of new areas by the lichen. Spray drift from neighbouring farming activities may also pose a threat. There could also be an indirect impact through ammonia and other nitrogen compounds increasing the vigour of the surrounding vegetation, and reducing the areas of open ground the lichen requires.

Conservation – Scaly breck lichen

Scaly Breck lichen is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAPs), and is included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme (SRP). With any species of plant and animal in decline, it is vital to establish what has or is happening to reduce its numbers. Research has determined the causes for this lichen's reduction in populations, and all its existing sites are now protected. It has also been successfully re-introduced to suitable sites within its former Breckland range. Lichens are easily overlooked, yet they are fascinating organisms. It is just as essential that they receive protection, and that efforts are made to conserve them, as any of the more glamorous and well-known species in the British Isles.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.

Authentication

Information supplied by English Nature.

http://www.english-nature.org.uk

Glossary

  • Calcareous: containing free calcium carbonate, chalky.

References

More

Related species

More

Related species by status

No related species found
More

Related species by group

Loading...
More

Related species by geography

More

Related species by habitat

What's new?

Malabar spiny dormouse on a branch

New profile for the Vulnerable Malabar spiny dormouse. More

Latest from the ARKive blogsubscribe to posts

Loading...
ARKive.org is the place for films, photos and facts about endangered species. Subscribe to our blog today to keep up to date!

To see the latest posts from ARKive please visit http://blog.arkive.org or enable javascript.

Image credit

Scaly breck-lichen
Scaly breck-lichen

© Frank Dobson

Frank Dobson
57 Acacia Grove
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 3BU
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 208 949 2416
Fax: +44 (0) 208 949 2416

Link to this photo

ARKive species - Scaly breck lichen (Squamarina lentigera) Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for not-for-profit private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. Portlets may NOT be used within Apps.

MyARKive

Scaly breck-lichen

MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.