Sticta tunjensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Sticta tunjensis faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Colombia's montane cloud forests. Agricultural expansion and cattle ranching have eliminated much of its specialized epiphytic habitat, while climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where this lichen can survive. Air pollution from nearby urban areas may also compromise the species' ability to photosynthesize effectively.
Habitat
This epiphytic lichen inhabits the bark of trees in Colombia's montane cloud forests, typically found at elevations between 2,800-3,200 meters. It requires the consistently high humidity and stable temperatures characteristic of these specialized Andean ecosystems.