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Lichen Caloplaca Candelariella growing on the edge of a rock.
NPS Photo
As impressive as the list is, we know it is incomplete. There are more than 200 species of lichens known from alpine tundra in Colorado. The park should provide habitat for most or all of thembut currently there are few researchers working on this fascinating topic.
In 2005, thanks to the help of two great volunteers, John and Donna Woods, the park has added lichens to the growing set of park species checklists available on our website. This was compiled from several sources- personal communications from University of Colorado- Boulder emeritus professor William Weber, a list of lichens used by air quality researcher James Bennett, and a list of lichens donated to the park's museum collection by Dr. Robert Egan'sRocky Mountain Nature Association Seminarlichen class for 2004. A special thanks also goes to Connie and Stan Heginbotham for providing so many outstanding photos to illustrate this list.
