Introduction to Lichens: Dr. Klara Scharnagl

Joyful Microbe

What’s something from the microbial world you can go outside and almost be guaranteed to see? I’ll give you a hint. They are those gray, green, yellow, orange, red, and other colorful splotches on trees and rocks. I once even saw one while I was mountain biking. It was growing on an old boot! Those are lichens.

But what are these things we call lichens? And what are they doing hanging out on rocks and other substrates that don’t move? That’s what we’ll talk about in this episode of the podcast. Lichens fall within the microbial world because they are composed of microbes. You’ll learn from lichenologist Dr. Klara Scharnagl why these organisms are so cool and how to enjoy them for yourself in your daily life. You can think of this as your introduction to lichens, learning from an expert in lichens.

In this episode, you will learn about…

• What are lichens?
• The lichen eye
• Are lichens extremophiles?
• What are lichens doing?
• Do lichens harm surfaces they attach to?
• How do they get where they are?
• Fruiting bodies of lichens
• Lichen species names
• The diversity of lichen partnerships
• How long do lichens live?
• Can you see a lichen form?
• Studying lichens in the field vs. the lab
• ​​Lichen buddies
• What it means to be a curator of lichenology
• At-home microbiology activity

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