Diario de henryfletcher

I have found the rough speckled shield lichen (Punctelia rudecta) to be an interesting species. It is a very pollution-tolerant lichen, so it has been recommended as a bioindicator for air pollution in the forested uplands of the south-eastern United States. Also, this species has been shown to serve as a host and breeding ground for mites. To date, it is unclear what service the mites provide to the lichen.