Researchers from the Nature Trust of New Brunswick are currently seeking out four specific types of lichens, and they have recently discovered one of them in a rather unexpected location. The scaly fringe lichen, scientifically known as heterodermia squamulosa, was located between Alma and Riverside-Albert, situated to the east of Fundy National Park. Ilana Urquhart, a conservation coordinator at the Nature Trust, mentioned that this finding marks the most eastern documented occurrence of this species thus far.
Lichens, which are a symbiotic combination of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner like algae, typically manifest as crusty patches in shades of grey, yellow, or green on tree surfaces, resembling moss. While lichens can be challenging to locate, they are commonly found on rocks and trees. In the past, these lichens have been observed along the coast west of Fundy and occasionally on Grand Manan island.
Urquhart explained that lichens thrive on various surfaces, using trees solely as a living platform without affecting the trees themselves. The scaly fringe lichen, along with the other sought-after varieties – wrinkled shingle lichen, blue felt lichen, and white-rimmed shingle lichen – are particularly elusive.
These lichen species have been assessed for their scarcity in the region, with wrinkled shingle lichen classified as endangered, and white-rimmed shingle and scaly fringe lichens as threatened, while blue felt lichen is categorized as a species of special concern.
According to Urquhart, lichens serve as valuable indicators of a healthy ecosystem capable of supporting diverse species, even if their exact ecological significance may not be immediately apparent. Habitat loss, primarily due to activities like logging and harvesting, poses the most significant threat to lichens. The Nature Trust’s research findings will be shared with fellow researchers and contribute to the provincial dataset due to the limited observational data available on these lichens.
Funded by Environment Climate Change Canada through the Habitat Stewardship Program, the Nature Trust has been actively searching for lichens since 2022, expanding their exploration efforts this year. They have identified scaly fringe lichen, white-rimmed shingle lichen, and wrinkled shingle lichen. The research team has been collaborating with landowners possessing suitable environments for these lichens, focusing on cedar swamps, maple swamps, and hardwood areas in regions like Charlotte County, the Wolastoq River (St. John River), and the coastal islands of the Bay of Fundy.
The Nature Trust continues the search for blue felt lichen, already known to be present in Charlotte County and on Grand Manan island.
