Greenish Mottled-disk Lichen
Trapeliopsis viridescens
Photo: Photo: (c) John Franklin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John Franklin
Overview
The Greenish Mottled-disk Lichen is a crustose lichen species characterized by its distinctive greenish thallus with mottled, disk-like apothecia that give it its common name. This slow-growing epiphytic lichen forms thin, crusty patches on tree bark and plays an important ecological role as a pioneer species in forest ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
Trapeliopsis viridescens faces severe threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and land conversion, particularly affecting the old-growth forests where this lichen species typically occurs. Air pollution and climate change further compound these pressures by altering the specific microclimate conditions and air quality that this sensitive lichen requires for survival.
Habitat
Trapeliopsis viridescens grows exclusively on the smooth bark of mature deciduous trees, particularly favoring the north-facing sides of oak and beech trunks in old-growth temperate forests. The species requires specific microclimatic conditions with high humidity, filtered light, and minimal air pollution, typically found in undisturbed forest interiors at elevations between 200-800 meters.
Other threatened species in Trapeliaceae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is Greenish Mottled-disk Lichen classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Greenish Mottled-disk Lichen live?
What are the main threats to Greenish Mottled-disk Lichen?
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