Dark Red Disc Lichen
Lecidea erythrophaea
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Tomás Curtis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tomás Curtis
Overview
The Dark Red Disc Lichen (Lecidea erythrophaea) is a crustose lichen species characterized by its distinctive dark reddish-brown to blackish apothecia (fruiting bodies) that form small disc-like structures on rock surfaces. This slow-growing lichen forms thin, often inconspicuous crusts on its substrate and plays an important ecological role in primary succession, helping to break down rock surfaces and create soil for other organisms.
Dark Red Disc Lichen faces significant threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which alter its specialized substrate chemistry and disrupt its slow-growing symbiotic relationship. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate moisture balance required for this species' survival. Habitat degradation from human activities further compounds these pressures on remaining populations.
Habitat
Dark Red Disc Lichen typically grows on acidic rock surfaces, particularly siliceous substrates in montane and subalpine environments. It favors exposed to semi-shaded rocky outcrops, cliff faces, and boulder fields in areas with clean air and specific moisture regimes.
Other threatened species in Lecideaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Dark Red Disc Lichen classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Dark Red Disc Lichen live?
What are the main threats to Dark Red Disc Lichen?
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