Last weekend, a group of Rissa volunteers joined lichen expert Professor Arve Elvebakk to learn about what kind of lichen species we can find in the Tromsø area, and what basic tools and methods we can use to identify them. This event was the first of many aimed at mapping species in an effort to raise awareness of the plants, animals, and fungi in areas threatened by urban and industrial development.
Exploring the world of lichens with Prof. Arve Elvebakk.
It was a gorgeous clear day in Tromsø, perfect for lichen hunting! We met Professor Elvebakk, former director of the Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden, in the parking lot of Telegrafbukta, then set off into the forest to see what we could find. The first tree we stopped at had a few different types of lichens, which looked nearly indistinguishable to the untrained eye. Then, we walked down closer to the beach, past families sitting around campfires and roasting sausages, where we learned about species that rely on nutrients from sea-spray to survive, such as Xanthoria parientina.
Orange coexistence between an algae and a fungus.
At first, us newcomers could only spot some of the common gray ones, and a few brown patches too. But as we spent more time in the forest, we started to notice the smaller details, from the tiny orange spores to the stringy beard-like species. The excitement of the hunt took over us, and with a curious and calibrated eye we each went from tree to tree looking for new samples.
Once we had found a handful of different species and become more familiar with how they were spread out across the landscape, we collected our samples and brought them into the Tromsø Museum Botanical Laboratory. Professor Elvebakk brought out his favorite books (Norsk lavflora, by Håkon Holien & Tor Tønsberg) and helped us identify the different lichens we had found. The most common ones we found were the gray species Parmelia sulcata and Hypogymnia physodes, and the brown species Melanohalea olivacea.
Learning, one step at a time!
Even though we had the reference book open in front of us, it still was difficult to differentiate between a lot of the samples. This issue was resolved when we examined the species under a microscope. With the 10X magnification (and guidance from Professor Elvebakk) we were able to see the small differences between the species, even the ones that looked near identical in their natural habitat. We could also see the small bugs and creatures that make a home for themselves amongst the lichen and tree bark, reminding us how interconnected these forest ecosystems are.
Delving into another world.
We learned that Tromsø’s forests are host to dozens of lichen species, including some red-listed ones in the categories Near Threatened (NT) and Vulnerable (VU) such as:
Alectoria sarmentosa (NT)
Calcilium tigillare (NT)
Chaenotheca gracilenta (NT)
Enchylium bachmanianum (VU)
Evernia mesomorpha (NT)
Gyalecta ulmi (NT)
Hypogymnia bitteri (NT)
Lecanora albella (NT)
Lempholemma radiatum (VU)
Lobaria hallii (VU)
Rostania occultata (VU)
Sclerophora coniophaea (NT)
Micro exploration.
Lichens are just one group we are targetting in our upcoming bioblitz events, where we will venture into Tromsø’s remaining patches of nature and map the species we can find. While at the moment winter yields minimal biodiversity, we will be able to track the return of life as the seasons shift. These mapping efforts will provide valuable insights for conservationists, policymakers, developers, and local communities, highlighting the rich biodiversity in these areas. By deepening our connection to the surrounding environment, these efforts can also help identify protected species and rare nature types, ensuring authorities have the information needed to safeguard them when necessary.
Respect lichens: they preceded and will outlive us!
There is so much we don’t know about the incredible diversity of life that surrounds us, even in our own backyards. One of the great uncertainties is whether red-listed species—those threatened with extinction—are silently inhabiting the very lands developers have their eyes on. These species face increasing pressure from expanding residential and industrial development, making their protection more urgent than ever.
But during our lichen workshop, Professor Elvebakk posed a thought-provoking question: “Why wait for a species to be red-listed before we protect it?" While identifying and safeguarding threatened species is crucial, so is preserving the rich communities that make up our everyday nature. Protecting biodiversity isn’t just about saving the rarest. It’s about valuing and caring for the ecosystems that sustain all life, before they, too, become endangered.
Keep an eye on Rissa's event page to learn about our next Bioblitz outings. All are welcome!
Telegrafbukta at the time of the lichen workshop with Prof. Arve Elvebakk.
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