NSF Home IMAGE LIBRARY HOME Contact NSF Image Library How to Use the NSF Image Library
Image Search


IMAGE SEARCH
ALL IMAGES
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
NEWS IMAGES
NSF SENIOR STAFF
OTHER PHOTO SOURCES
Image: <I>Teloschistes crysophthalmus</I> is a bright orange, shrub-like epiphyte growing on ocotillo, <I>Fouquieria diguetii</I>, along the coast of Baja.<BR> <BR> Lichens are actually made up of two plants—an algae and a fungus, living in a symbiotic relationship. In desert environments, lichen will dry out completely and remain dormant until rain or dewfall provides enough moisture to make them active again. This ability allows lichens to survive some of the harshest environments on the planet. Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution. Scientists rely on them as a bioindicator species, like a natural early warning system. [One of several related images; see also, <B>Colorful Lichens on Baja Coast</B>, <B>Lichen Species <I>Caloplaca ignea</I></B>, <B>Lichen-Covered Boulders</B>, and <B>SEM of Lichen</B>.]<BR> <BR> <B><U>More about this Image</U>:</B> Plant biologist Thomas Nash has spent a career studying lichens, the crusty mats of blue and green and orange often seen covering desert rocks. The Lichen Herbarium at Arizona State University is home to 90,000 specimens collected over 30 years by Nash and his colleagues. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Nash and 70 scientists from 16 countries have spent more than 14 years documenting all the lichen species found in the Sonoran Desert region. More than 40 percent of the lichens known to North America live in the Sonoran Desert and surrounding regions. They recently completed volume I of the first comprehensive account of all lichen species known from the Southwest, including large parts of northwest Mexico.<BR> <BR> Volume I of the <I>Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region</I> covers nearly 600 species of lichen in more than 140 genera. The volume is co-edited by Nash, Bruce D. Ryan, Corinna Gries, and Frank Bungartz. The book offers identification keys and descriptions for each species treated, as well as maps showing species distribution. For details, visit <a href="http://ces.asu.edu/ASULichens". Thumbnail">

Name:

E-mail Address:

Where will the image be used:
NSF requests users to complete an electronic information form documenting the requestor's planned use of the image. This form provides us with valuable tracking information that will help to shape the contents of the image library in the future. We do not retain any personal information (name, email address other than domain name - “.edu,” “.org,” “.com,” “.gov,” etc.) in our files. If you would prefer not to provide your name and email address, type any letter in those boxes. For information about NSF’s Privacy Policy, please see http://www.nsf.gov/home/pubinfo/privacy.htm.


Image Library HomeNSF HomeOffice of Legislative and Public Affairs Home

The National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA
Tel: 703-292-5111
FIRS: 800-877-8339 ~ TDD: 703-292-5090

Last Modified: Jan 31, 2001