Urban Observation of the Week: Stop Sign Lichens

October 28, 2020

What is a lichen? Is it a plant? Is it fungus?

Actually, lichen are a group of symbiotic fungi and algae! They are typically found in moist environments, growing on rocks and trees in the forest. Today’s observation was found on a crosswalk sign!

https://twitter.com/thelichenlady/status/1312354684162670592?s=21

Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something unusual? What about a rare plant or animal that you were surprised to find in a city? If so, let Lindsay know or Tweet at us and you could be featured as a future observation of the week!

lindsaymilesphd

I’m a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in the Integrative Life Science Doctoral Program. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Marc Johnson’s EvoEco Lab at the University of Toronto Mississauga. I am interested in urban ecology and evolution. Urbanization can have drastic impacts on local ecosystems, both negative and positive, and creates a new environment for organisms to experience. To understand the impacts that urbanization plays on organisms, I look through the lense of population genetics and molecular evolution.

Urban Observation of the Week: Stop Sign Lichens

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