CR

Ramalina protensa

Unknown

Overview

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

Ramalina protensa faces severe decline due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter the chemical composition of its substrate and disrupt its photosynthetic processes. Urban development and industrial activities have eliminated much of its suitable habitat, while climate change creates increasingly unsuitable microclimatic conditions for this pollution-sensitive lichen species.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic lichen grows on the bark of deciduous trees, particularly in areas with clean air and stable microclimatic conditions. It typically occurs in mature woodlands, old-growth forests, and historically in urban parks before pollution levels became prohibitive.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ramalina protensa classified as Critically Endangered?
Ramalina protensa 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. Ramalina protensa faces severe decline due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter the chemical composition of its substrate and disrupt its photosynthetic processes. Urban development and industrial activities have eliminated much of its suitable habitat, while climate change creates increasingly unsuitable microclimatic conditions for this pollution-sensitive lichen species.
Where does Ramalina protensa live?
Ramalina protensa 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 Ramalina protensa?
The main threats to Ramalina protensa 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.