The Learning Lichen research group participated in two sessions of a hands-on biology workshop led by Ohio States’ Associate Professor Emeritus, and local lichen researcher, Robert Klips. Before taking a look at various samples of lichens under the microscope, Dr. Klips went over the basic structure of this symbiotic relationship. For instance, lichens are a symbiotic relationship, forming from fungi and algae. He compared it to a horticulture system, fungi farming the algae, and bacteria participating alongside these two organisms. Moving on to identification, we looked at the three forms of lichens and their growth types, Foilicose, Fruticose, and Crustose. Other organic structural terms we learned include, Apothecium, Soredia and Isidia, all of which are forms of reproduction. Apothecium being a structure that sexually reproduces while soredia and isidia structures asexually reproduce. During the workshop we examined the apothecia under the Microscope. They present as cup-like structures that often produce spores, and when the sample was sliced, we were able to see the algae cells. Seeing the vibrant plastids made it easier to visualize the inner workings and symbiotic relationship of lichen. There is much more to learn when it comes to lichens, but it was a great to learn about the foundations with Robert Klips.
Klips provided a field guide educating any and all lichen liker on the species as it relates to Ohio’s geography and climate.
To demonstrate the lichen could be found anywhere, we looked for one! We didn’t travel far, walking to a nearby tree and discovering the Candleflame Lichen (Candelaria concolor) on a large tree.
