Lichens & Air Quality
Across the United States, lichen biomonitoring is helping federal land managers meet federal and agency responsibilities to detect, map, evaluate trends, and assess the ecological impacts of air pollutants. On this site, you can access lichen data from the National Forest System Air Program and the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program and learn more about lichens.
The FS has been collecting lichen data since the 1970s. Since 1993, the National Forest System (NFS) and the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) have collected lichen data on forestland. This database unites data collected by the USFS as well as partnering agencies and researchers, including data on both community composition and elemental analysis of lichen tissue. As of November 13, 2017, the database houses 171,489 lichen records and 15,383 lichen tissue samples collected on 10,623 plots and is usually updated annually to include new data and add new functionality. Most data focus on macrolichen (non-crustose) epiphytes in forest habitats although some data on ground, rock, and crustose lichens are available.
Lecanora garovaglii, gray crust, with other crusts, on a rock.
Photo by Chris Wagner, U.S. Forest Service.
Website Features
- Air Pollution Effects: Information about the unique organisms called lichens, how air pollutants affect lichen communities, and the important roles lichens play in air quality and their ecosystems
- Database Queries: Query the database of lichen species by geographic area or sensitivity class and retrieve lichen elemental analysis data
- Element Analysis Thresholds: 90% quantiles for element concentrations in lichens from background sites in National Forests across the country.
- Species Sensitivity Ratings: Aids for interpreting lichen data
- Training & Protocols: Protocols for community and elemental analysis, study design, and materials for training lichen surveyors
- Images: Illustrations, structures, and photographs for hundreds of species
- Resources: Reports, scientific articles, websites, and media for further exploration, for educators, students, and naturalists
Our Data
The Forest Service has been collecting lichen data since the 1970s, with nationwide emphasis beginning in 1993. Since then, the National Forest System (NFS) and the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program have collected lichen data on forestland. This database unites data collected by the Forest Service and partnering agencies and researchers, including data on community composition and elemental analysis of lichen tissue. As of November 13, 2017, the database houses 171,489 lichen records and 15,383 lichen tissue samples collected on 10,623 plots and is usually updated annually to include new data and add new functionality. Most data focus on macrolichen (non-crustose) epiphytes in forest habitats although some data on ground, rock, and crustose lichens are available.
Data Contributors
NFS: The Forest Service Air Program conducts lichen surveys and collects lichens for elemental analysis on sites within the National Forest System. Because Wilderness air quality is more stringently protected under the Clean Air Act, much of the focus is on Wilderness. Actual plot coordinates and elevations are provided for surveys on non-FIA-plots. Overall, the Air Program uses lichens to tell us how air pollution and climate are affecting the forested landscape and how we are doing as managers in mitigating changing atmospheric conditions and pollution. Most of the lichen data is accompanied by measured and modeled site data related to forest structure and composition, physical and ecological characteristics, climate, and air quality.
For questions, please contact Linda Geiser.
FIA: The FIA Program collects forest measurements on a systematic grid across the United States. Most FIA lichen surveys can be linked to data on trees, invasive plant species, understory vegetation, down woody material, and soils. Visit FIA DataMart to download raw FIA data in comma delimited tables, SQLite databases, and customizable batch estimate workbooks. Plots include public and private land, so geographic coordinates for FIA-plots are “fuzzed” to protect landowner privacy. Most coordinates fall within 0.5 miles of the actual plot location.
For questions, please contact Sarah Jovan.