On November 19th the Lutzoni Lab hosted a lichen field trip for the “Wild Ones,” an undergraduate natural history club at Duke.
Before heading out to the field, we took a few minutes in the lab to introduce some basic concepts in lichen biology.
Ian Medeiros (right) demonstrates the color change when a foliose lichen sample is rehydrated
We then gathered at Johnston Mill Preserve, a beautiful property owned by the Triangle Land Conservancy.
Scott LaGreca (right, in black vest) describes the major morphological categories of lichens
Ian Medeiros (in blaze orange hat) points out an arthropod of some kind which is either mimicking a lichen or has camouflaged itself with actual lichen tissue
Francois Lutzoni (second from right, facing away from camera) highlights the scarcity of lichens on trees with shaggy, peeling bark
An undergraduate student practices using a hand lens