Solstice Lichen Walk in the Mt. Tam Bioregion

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Lichens are symbiotic organisms–fungi living with photosynthesizing partners–that are all around us. Lichens are beautiful, and they also play critical roles in ecosystems. As small organisms that are sensitive to fine-scale environmental conditions, lichens can be used as powerful ecological indicators. Once you begin to pay attention to lichens you can hear the stories they’re telling about the world around us.

Join Dr. Jesse Miller for a look at diverse lichens of the moist forests, woodlands and scrublands of Marin County. We will pay special attention to how lichen communities shift between different substrates–we will see distinct lichens on conifers, hardwood trees, and other woody plants that host these fascinating organisms.

We will learn to identify several common lichens, and we will also discuss their ecological roles. The total hiking distance will be in the range of two to four miles (open-ended depending on how fast we move), and it will be an easy- to moderate-intensity hike.

Everyone is welcome, but please leave your dogs at home. No previous experience with lichens is needed.

You might want to bring a notebook and pen / pencil for sketching or making notes about some of the plants we encounter. I also recommend bringing plenty of water and snacks. No water is available at the trailhead.

A $10-40 donation to support lichen research is requested at registration–pay what you can. Private lichen and plant identification lessons are also available with the instructor.
Space is limited so please register early to ensure you get a spot. The specific location where we will meet will be sent upon registration. Our meeting location will be in Marin County in the vicinity of Mt. Tam (but not at the summit of Mt. Tam). Transportation to the trailhead is not provided, and attendees are encouraged to carpool.

We expect to hold the event rain or shine, but may cancel if the forecast looks particularly dismal. If there is any doubt in the weather forecast, please keep an eye on your email for an update about the status either the night before or the morning of the event.

Instructor bio: Jesse Miller has worked with lichens since 2007. After several years working as a field botanist and lichenologist in Oregon and California, he completed his PhD in plant ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He now teaches ecology at Stanford. His recent research includes studying the effects of larger, hotter wildfires on lichen diversity in the Sierra Nevada. For more info, see his website: jesseedmiller.com

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.