Bolander's map lichen
CR

Bolander's map lichen

Rhizocarpon bolanderi

Unknown

Photo: (c) Liam O'Brien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Liam O'Brien

Overview

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

Rhizocarpon bolanderi faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and acid rain, which alter the chemistry of its rocky substrates and disrupt its slow-growing lichen physiology. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature extremes that affect the delicate moisture balance required for this species' survival. Habitat destruction from quarrying, development, and recreational activities further fragments its already limited populations on specialized rock surfaces.

Threat summary

Habitat

This crustose lichen species inhabits exposed siliceous rock surfaces, particularly granite and other acidic rocks in montane and subalpine environments. It typically grows on vertical to slightly overhanging rock faces where it receives adequate moisture from fog and precipitation while avoiding excessive water accumulation.

Other threatened species in Rhizocarpaceae

Rock-loving Map LichenVU

Rock-loving Map Lichen

Rhizocarpon petraeum

Unknown
epilichen lichenCR

epilichen lichen

Epilichen scabrosus

Unknown
map lichenCR

map lichen

Rhizocarpon umbilicatum

Unknown
VU

Hochstetter's map lichen

Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bolander's map lichen classified as Critically Endangered?
Bolander's map 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. Rhizocarpon bolanderi faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and acid rain, which alter the chemistry of its rocky substrates and disrupt its slow-growing lichen physiology. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature extremes that affect the delicate moisture balance required for this species' survival. Habitat destruction from quarrying, development, and recreational activities further fragments its already limited populations on specialized rock surfaces.
Where does Bolander's map lichen live?
Bolander's map 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 Bolander's map lichen?
The main threats to Bolander's map 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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