Long term experiment - Transplanting lichen.
Lichens are fascinating things. They are a symbiotic association between a fungus and an algae and can be found growing just about anywhere if you look. However the varieties which will thrive in a specific area are determined by the air quality as certain pollutants will kill certain lichens. You will find the cleaner the air, the more species of lichen you will find.
I picked up the lichen-rich rock in the picture from the lower slopes of Pen-Y-Ghent in Yorkshire (UK) and took it back to where I live in the Cotswolds - A rural area in Gloucestershire and around 200 miles south of the rock's 'home'. It now resides at the top of a dry-stone wall bordering our drive.
I intend to photograph this rock every six months to see which lichens thrive and which decline and whether any transfer across to the surrounding limestone of the wall. The first photos were taken in early August. One photo shows the lichens already established on our wall which has been there 16 years. I'll update this topic with new pics in Feb 2012.
7
comments
|
Add Comment
|
sort by:
active |
newest |
oldest
Virtual pint for Lemonie.
(This was origanally a 'what is it' question.)
I know lichen, I look at these things closely sometimes...
L
They're fascinating things when you get up close; especially the fruiting bodies. Very photogenic and lovely pastel colours.
We expect an instructable from this - How to Farm Lichens.
It's a looong, sloooow process - only slightly swifter than breeding rocks.
I can't see any change on the ones in our lounge in the 18 years I've known them.
Bah - Can't add image notes:
The benchmark (575ft) is in the lounge too. The back part of the house was added on to the original (1820's) building.
 |
Vancouver Mini Maker Faire 2012
Rebuilding NordicTrack ski machine drive rollers
Looking for New Zealand-based Instructables authors for conference on August 27 in Wellington
Call to makers - Brighton Mini Maker Faire
Milk Crates - not as green as you think
TEDxBaghdad - Iraq - violence, dust storms and open sourced manufacturing
UK Mini Maker Faire - The Derby Silk Mill - New Poster to Share!
