Sphaerophorus fragilis
Local name: Skør kuglelav
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Sphaerophoraceae
Genus
Sphaerophorus
Sphaerophorus fragilis belongs to the family Sphaerophoraceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Skør kuglelav faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which dramatically alter the chemistry of its substrate and surrounding environment. Climate change compounds these pressures by creating conditions that favor competing species and alter the delicate moisture regimes this sensitive lichen requires. Habitat fragmentation and loss of suitable old-growth forest stands further restrict available colonization sites.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species occurs on bark and wood of old trees in mature, humid forests, particularly favoring acidic substrates in areas with clean air and stable moisture conditions. It is typically found in undisturbed coniferous and mixed forests where air quality remains high and atmospheric pollution is minimal.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Skør kuglelav faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds, which dramatically alter the chemistry of its substrate and surrounding environment. Climate change compounds these pressures by creating conditions that favor competing species and alter the delicate moisture regimes this sensitive lichen requires. Habitat fragmentation and loss of suitable old-growth forest stands further restrict available colonization sites.
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat fragmentation and forest degradation
Loss of old-growth forest substrates
Competition from pollution-tolerant species
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Sphaerophorus fragilis (Sphaerophorus fragilis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/skr-kuglelav