January 13, 2021
At least eight species of lichens can be seen in this photo taken at the Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in southern Albany County. Wyoming’s 860 lichen species are listed individually in an online tool by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at UW. (Dorothy Tuthill Photo)
A “census” of Wyoming’s lichens is now online and accessible through the species list tool of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) at the University of Wyoming.
“Wyoming has a bounty of 860 lichen species, a workforce of soil-binding, rock-hugging and tree-trimming organisms,” says Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD’s lead botanist. “The addition of lichens to the species list tool is a major stride in representing Wyoming’s flora and fauna.”