SandBox has been wondering where Dr. Joanne Stolen has been! Always one of the best references for top-notch reporting and op-ed pieces on the environment; she's one of our fav's.
Dr. Joanne Stolen:
"Did the lichen kill the trees, or do they prefer dead or dying trees? Because they do seem to prefer trees or shrubs already beginning to die, the lichen is often unjustly blamed for adversely affecting the tree. In actuality, many lichens grow rapidly when exposed to full sunlight, and that is why they are a common occurrence on dead or dying trees. Their position on the trees gives them a secure location to anchor as well as access to sunlight in dark forests. When the tree whose canopy is failing eventually dies, the lichen's growth greatly increases because of the additional sunlight. This is why many dead or dying trees are often covered with lichens. Dying trees also often release a kind of sugar or sap, a lure for lichen — but lichens do not consume any part of the plant, nor do they poison it..." (Read more? Click title)
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