Scutula circumspecta
Local name: hämylehtojäkälä
Photo: Photo: (c) Tomás Curtis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tomás Curtis
Overview
Scutula circumspecta is a small crustose lichen that forms thin, grayish patches on tree bark with distinctive dark margins around its fruiting bodies. This epiphytic species plays an important ecological role in forest ecosystems by contributing to nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
Scutula circumspecta, a critically endangered lichen species, faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized substrate requirements. Air pollution and climate change further threaten the remaining populations by altering the delicate environmental conditions this species requires for survival.
Habitat
This lichen grows exclusively on the smooth bark of mature deciduous trees, particularly favoring ash, maple, and elm in old-growth and semi-natural forests. It requires stable microclimatic conditions with high humidity and minimal air pollution, typically found in undisturbed woodland areas away from urban and agricultural influences.
Other threatened species in Byssolomataceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is hämylehtojäkälä classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does hämylehtojäkälä live?
What are the main threats to hämylehtojäkälä?
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