https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203979319
I found this lichen, which I believe to be Reindeer Lichen, or Cladonia rangiferina (scientific name), while on my hike this afternoon up to Perseverance Lake. The trail is one of my very favorite hikes in Southeast Alaska and is something that I try to do throughout the seasons. It has excellent bird watching, diverse landscapes, and the lake at the top is a nice reward after strenuous hills! I found this group of lichen in a mossy marsh/muskeg area that was adjacent to a small creek. Although similar, this particular lichen is not to be confused Old Mans’ Beard or Usnea Longissima as they are completely different other than both belonging to the lichen family.
Although I found this specimen in the Ketchikan area, I found some interesting facts about this species that I would like to include in this journal entry. The scientific section of the Brittanica Library writes that it is used by mammals such as musk oxen and caribou in more northern ecosystems. On top of that, the same Library included that the lichen is used in Scandinavian countries in alcohol production. This is something that I find to be very interesting! I work at a distillery that produces its own spirits and I cannot imagine using lichen as part of the distilling process—mainly because of its high-water content. The last fact that I have about this species is that it is very slow growing and tends to grow between 0.12 to 0.2 inches per year (Petruzello). That is not a lot of growth!
Works Cited
“Reindeer Lichen.” Edited by Melissa Petruzello, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/science/reindeer-lichen. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.
Comentarios
There is a similar hike here on the North end of the road in Juneau, Windfall Lake, steep on most of the trail but climbs to a lake with a cabin that you can rent out from the Department of Forestry. I haven't rented the cabin before, but it has a boat dock that you can also land a float plan at, so I imagine that it gets a lot of tourism business during the summer months. I wonder if this lichen might also be found along the trail up there, it's been more than a year since I last went and there was still snow on the ground at that time. I didn't see much wildlife on the journey, but it may have been due to it being a frequently used trail. There was already two groups of hikers hanging out at the firepit by the cabin and another group that was going down as I was going up which I passed somewhere around the middle of the trail.
That's so tiny yet so full of uses! Reindeer Lichen, or Cladonia rangiferina, is such a special species. It's awesome that you found it on your hike up to Perseverance Lake, which sounds like an amazing trail with its diverse landscapes and bird watching opportunities. The lichen's presence in a mossy marsh/muskeg area near a creek adds to the natural beauty of the surroundings.
It's interesting to learn about the various uses of Reindeer Lichen. From being a food source for mammals like musk oxen and caribou in northern ecosystems to its use in Scandinavian countries in alcohol production, this lichen has diverse roles in different ecosystems and cultures. The fact that it grows so slowly, between 0.12 to 0.2 inches per year, is truly remarkable. Thanks for sharing your discovery and these fascinating facts about Reindeer Lichen!
Just a quick reminder, Elizabeth, that signal phrases also have to connect directly to the source in the Works Cited. You used the phrase "Britannica Library" to be your signal phrase, but in order for it to be correct, you would need to use the signal phrase of the article title "Reindeer Lichen." The signal phrase is just like the parenthetical citation in that it has to connect directly to the first words of the source listed in the Works Cited.
Thanks for sharing this species and taking us on a hike with you up to Perseverance Lake. I also think that's a lovely hike!
Agregar un comentario