Humble Pixie-cup Lichen
Cladonia humilis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Humble Pixie-cup Lichen faces significant pressure from habitat degradation caused by agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited range. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from industrial sources, disrupts the delicate chemical balance this species requires for photosynthesis and growth. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperature extremes that exceed the lichen's narrow tolerance range.
Habitat
This diminutive lichen species inhabits sandy soils and exposed mineral substrates in coastal dunes, heathlands, and open grasslands. It typically grows in areas with minimal vegetation cover where competition is reduced, often forming small colonies on acidic, nutrient-poor soils.
Other threatened species in Cladoniaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Humble Pixie-cup Lichen classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Humble Pixie-cup Lichen live?
What are the main threats to Humble Pixie-cup Lichen?
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