As a nature-loving person who loves to take evening walks around my neighborhood to appreciate nature, I was excited to explore Central Park, even though I did not know what I would learn from the trip. When I learned that I would be placed in the lichens group, I was slightly disappointed because I wanted to see a living thing that moved before my eyes. Also, I had no clue what a lichen was. However, as the trip progressed, I realized that lichens surrounded me; they lived in trees, rocks, and sometimes in park benches. It was cool to finally place a name on the scrubby-looking organisms that I saw on trees. Although in the 1900s, around 200 types of lichens were recorded in Central Park, only 22 different types of lichens were found in Central Park in 2013; my guide told our group that lichens were pollutant sensitive. I was not surprised by these statistics because of the destruction mankind was wrecking upon nature through some aspects of technology, and I thought there was little hope for these organisms.

I overlooked the beauty and responsibility of lichens. My guide told us that they made a beautiful brown dye when mixed with ammonia, but she told us that one person made dye with his own urine, which was something rather interesting, although disgusting.   In addition, our guide told us about the beauty of lichens, which consist of symbiotic relationships between fungus and cyanobacterium. The fungus provides a home for the cyanobacterium, and in return, the cyanobacterium provides food for the fungus. Simple balance in nature gives me tingles of joy, so it was relaxing to be away from my technology routine (like using the computer daily).

On another note, I was glad that I could freely ask my guide questions about anything I observed. For example, I saw a frightening insect translucent mold, and she told me it was the exoskeleton of a cicada, and stuck the exoskeleton on her shirt like it was a brooch. Additionally, once I remarked that the tree we were observing was a gingko tree, and she told the group about the story of the gingko tree and how it is an excellent, hardy tree to plant in urban areas. Her excitement of nature made me even more excited to explore more, even though people in NYC usually have the closed mindset that nature is not that important and that nature’s only good for looking. Therefore, looking back on the  Bio Blitz, I hope I can spread my contagious love of nature to others as well.