Powdery Kidney Lichen
CR

Powdery Kidney Lichen

Nephroma parile

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephroma_parile

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Powdery Kidney Lichen faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which dramatically alter the chemical composition of its substrate and surrounding environment. Climate change is causing shifts in precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that disrupt the delicate moisture balance this species requires, while habitat fragmentation from deforestation and urban development eliminates suitable old-growth forest environments.

Threat summary

Habitat

Powdery Kidney Lichen grows on the bark of deciduous trees, particularly in humid old-growth and mature secondary forests with high air quality. It typically occurs in cool, moist woodland environments where it forms distinctive leafy thalli on tree trunks and branches.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Nephromataceae

Mustard Kidney LichenCR

Mustard Kidney Lichen

Nephroma laevigatum

Unknown
Fringed Kidney LichenCR

Fringed Kidney Lichen

Nephroma helveticum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Powdery Kidney Lichen classified as Critically Endangered?
Powdery Kidney Lichen is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Powdery Kidney Lichen faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which dramatically alter the chemical composition of its substrate and surrounding environment. Climate change is causing shifts in precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that disrupt the delicate moisture balance this species requires, while habitat fragmentation from deforestation and urban development eliminates suitable old-growth forest environments.
Where does Powdery Kidney Lichen live?
Powdery Kidney Lichen occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Powdery Kidney Lichen?
The main threats to Powdery Kidney Lichen are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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