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Lichen
is composed of a fungus and an alga.
Main consumers of lichen in the boreal forest
caribou
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Lesson
Plans | |
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Lovable Lichen….no I am not referring to Lichen
our sled dog.
| One of
the most interesting, yet often overlooked symbiotic relationships in the natural
world are Lichens. Lichens are the symbiosis between a fungus and an algae. Symbiosis
is the interaction between two or more species that benefits at least one of them.
With lichens it is thought that both the fungus and the algae benefit. One |
Doesn't this lichen look tasty! It would if you were a caribou. |
example of algae is
seaweed: it uses photosynthesis to make food. The fungus provides shelter and
protection for the algae. The algae supplies both fungus and algae with food.
If you think that's cool, just wait lichens only get more interesting.
Caribou paw at the snow to uncover the lichen they love to eat. | Lichens
are able to grow in extreme environments; found in the hottest desert, the coldest
tundra, and the wettest rain forest. They may grow on soil, debris, rocks, tree
bark or leaves. Most lichens grow very slowly, often less than a millimeter per
year. They are able to shut down ("hibernate") during extended periods
of unfavorable conditions and survive extremes of heat, cold, and drought. |
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The boreal forest can be
a pretty hard place for plants and animals to survive, but lichens are able to
thrive in the boreal forest. Lichens are also a very important food source for
Caribou and even people! Lichen
is probably the single most important food source for caribou and reindeer, especially
in winter. Lichens form about 90% of a caribou's winter diet. The caribou smell
the lichens through the snow and then dig down through the snow to eat the lichen.
Then after the caribou have gotten nice and fat from eating lots of lichen, local
people harvest the caribou and feed themselves. Traditionally the Woodland Cree
enjoyed eating the fermented lichen that was found in the caribou's stomach. We
enjoyed the smoked caribou meat that Georgina prepared for us in Gods Lake Narrows,
but I think I will leave the fermented lichen for the Cree Elders to enjoy!
Keep Exploring!
Dave
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When the snow is gone a thick layer of lichen can be seen covering much of
the boreal forest's floor. For now we only get to see the lichen that is growing
on the rocks and trees left uncovered by the deep snow. |
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