breekbaar heidestaartje
Cladonia callosa
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Michel Langeveld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michel Langeveld
Overview
Cladonia callosa, known as breekbaar heidestaartje, is a small fruticose lichen characterized by its delicate, branching structure and pale grayish-green coloration. This fragile lichen forms small cushions or scattered clusters on sandy soils and plays an important ecological role in stabilizing substrates and contributing to nutrient cycling in heathland ecosystems.
Cladonia callosa faces significant threats from habitat degradation and atmospheric pollution, which severely impact the specialized heathland and moorland ecosystems it depends on. Nitrogen deposition from agricultural and industrial sources alters soil chemistry, making conditions unsuitable for this sensitive lichen species. Climate change and increased recreational pressure on remaining heathland habitats further compound these threats.
Habitat
This species occurs in nutrient-poor, acidic heathlands, moorlands, and sandy coastal dunes, typically growing on exposed soil and among low shrubs like heather. It requires well-drained, oligotrophic conditions and is particularly associated with traditional extensively managed heathland systems.
Other threatened species in Cladoniaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is breekbaar heidestaartje classified as Vulnerable?
Where does breekbaar heidestaartje live?
What are the main threats to breekbaar heidestaartje?
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