Science Forward

When signing up for the bioblitz, I was not sure what it would entail. After watching the video clips we were assigned I got a better feel for what the few hours at the New York Botanical Garden would be like. I chose to be in the bird group, however, upon arrival I was switched into the lichen group. To my knowledge, I have never came in contact with a lichen before and I did not know what a lichen was or what it did or how it contributed to the environment/ecosystem. After the bioblitz, I can proudly explain and even identify lichen.

A lichen consists of a fungus and an algae which grow together in a symbiotic relationship where both benefit each other. Through photosynthesis, the algae provides food for the fungus. The fungi provides a structure for the algae to live while also proving some essential nutrients. Although Lichens can live in extreme temperatures, an abundance of lichen can be found on the ground, rocks and trees. Fungi usually do not grow in the sun, however, lichen have no preference and can grow in sunlight or shade. There are three types of lichen identifies: crustose, foliose and fruiticose. Each with a different texture and shape. Furthermore, since lichen cannot live when exposed to air pollution, lichen is used as an indicator, the more lichen there is, the less air pollution there is.

Our bioblitz guides described to the group what a lichen was and from there we went on our way to try to identify the different types found in the Garden. We walked around, looking at the trees and rocks to try to see what we could find. When someone found what they thought was a lichen, the group set out to identify it. The guides provided us with books that divided up the lichen first by where they grew and then by its type. After flipping through different photos and (almost) matching the picture in the book to the lichen by our feet, there were different ways to identify exactly which species the lichen was. One way was to read the description that the book gave and see if it fit the lichen. The next method was a chemical test. Most lichen will change a certain color when a drop of Potassium or Chlorine is applied to it. Based on the lichen type, there were certain areas that the chemical could be placed to make a reaction- the medulla, which is the middle or underside of the lichen, or the thallus, the entire surface of the lichen. If the test produced the correct reaction listed, then we successfully identified the genus and species of the lichen and recorded it on iNaturalist. If not, the lichen was unidentifiable, and a piece was taken to later be examined under a microscope or by a lichen professional.

These sampling methods were a little tedious. To me, most of the lichen were almost identical to each other and it was difficult to identify each species through a book. The chemical tests were a much better approach used to identify, however, the correct chemical reaction did not always occur and we were left at a standstill. through pictures in a book, I identified one lichen as a Lepraria neglect due to its color and figure. After chemical testing, I realized that that was not the correct lichen name, however it was a Lepraria lobificans, coming from the same genus but different species. That was a pretty interesting thing to find out.

In total, my group found 9 different species, 2 of which were unidentified. The data we found of lichen was being compared to the data that last years Macaulay group found in Central Park. The two are hard to compare due to the different locations searched and different times of year that the bioblitz occurred.

Overall, I thought the bioblitz was a really interesting idea; different groups of people observing different species in the Botanical Gardens and recording all of their data. Although I wished I had a more interesting species to research, it was exciting to be a part of the science world. The main thing that I liked knowing was that any person could sign up for the bioblitz and contribute to the data log without having any prior knowledge to what he or she was searching for. If someone asked me what a lichen was before today, I would have given them a blank stare and not know what to answer. Now, I can give a detailed explanation of what a lichen is, how to identify them and how they are their own little ecosystem; they live off trees, rocks or the ground, mutually benefit from the algae and fungi and reproduce asexually.

I think it would be interesting if Macaulay students went back to the Botanical Gardens next year and compared the data we found to what they would find. I wish we had that opportunity because it would have been interesting to see the different lichen that grew or things that certain groups may have missed when looking the first time. The area was really huge (over 250 acres) and I can’t imagine that the bioblitz as a whole observed even half of that amount. It might have been better to pick a slightly smaller park or a smaller section of the Botanical Gardens to observe, or have more people in each group.

Below are some pictures with description.