Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest
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By Bruce McCune and Linda Geiser.
A co-publication with the USDA Forest Service.
1997. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches. 352 pages. Full color.
Photographs by Sylvia and Stephen Sharnoff.
Drawings by Alexander Mikulin.
Bibliography. Illustrated Glossary. Index.
ISBN 0-87071-394-9. Paperback, $29.95.
Table of Contents
Introduction
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With growing attention to lichens as a key component in healthy ecosystems, this guide to the macrolichens of Pacific Northwest forests will prove invaluable to anyone seeking to identify lichens or to better understand their role in the natural world.
Lichens can be found in almost any natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to contributing to biological diversity, lichens are ecologically important as food, shelter, and nesting material for wildlife. They play significant roles in hydrological and mineral cycles, notably nitrogen fixation. Lichens are also important as environmental indicators, especially of air quality. Because of their importance in ecosystems and their value in environmental assessment, there is a large and growing interest among natural historians, land managers, and foresters in these organisms.
This unique guide includes keys to 92 genera and 458 species of Oregon and Washington macrolichens -- all the macrolichens known or expected to occur in the two states. Color photographs, illustrations, and full-page detailed descriptions are provided for over 200 species, emphasizing those found in forested ecosystems. Regional air quality sensitivities are provided for more than 100 species. The keys also provide reasonable coverage for lichens of Idaho and Montana, inland to the Continental Divide.
The illustrated glossary and introductory material cover the terminology needed to identify macrolichens and provide information on collection and handling. The biology, ecology, and air quality sensitivity of lichens are also discussed, with references for further exploration of the literature on these topics. The keys are intended for use by beginners as well as specialists: weekend naturalists will be able to identify specimens and recognize the great diversity of lichens, while mycologists and lichenologists will gain greater knowledge of the distribution and abundance of various species in the Pacific Northwest.
About the Authors
Bruce McCune is associate professor of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. He is co-author of
Macrolichens of the Northern Rocky Mountains and
The Lichens of British Columbia.
Linda Geiser is an ecologist and air quality specialist for the US Forest Service in Corvallis. She is co-author of
Lichens of Southeastern Alaska.
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