Stump lichen
CR

Stump lichen

Cladonia botrytes

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Stump lichen faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and urban development, which eliminates the decaying wood substrates essential for its survival. Air pollution and acid rain significantly impact this sensitive species, while climate change alters the specific moisture and temperature conditions required for its growth and reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Grows on decaying stumps, rotting logs, and dead wood in old-growth and mature forests, particularly in humid temperate and boreal woodland environments. Requires specific moisture conditions and clean air quality, typically found in undisturbed forest ecosystems with abundant coarse woody debris.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Cladoniaceae

Star-tipped Reindeer LichenEN

Star-tipped Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia stellaris

Unknown
Cladonia subcervicornisVU

Cladonia subcervicornis

Unknown
VU

Humble Pixie-cup Lichen

Cladonia humilis

Unknown
Felt Horn LichenVU

Felt Horn Lichen

Cladonia phyllophora

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Stump lichen classified as Critically Endangered?
Stump 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. Stump lichen faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and urban development, which eliminates the decaying wood substrates essential for its survival. Air pollution and acid rain significantly impact this sensitive species, while climate change alters the specific moisture and temperature conditions required for its growth and reproduction.
Where does Stump lichen live?
Stump 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 Stump lichen?
The main threats to Stump 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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