microscopic view of green algae

“See the Whole World in Lichens”: The Marvels That Grow Anywhere

Submitted by Zara Jan Kiani on
Katherine Glew, second from right, leads a lichen walk at Washington Park Arboretum. She’s the affiliate curator of the lichen collection at the Burke Museum Herbarium on the University of Washington campus. (Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)

The Seattle Times article explores the remarkable diversity and resilience of lichens, which can grow on everything from trees and rocks to fences and rooftops. It explains that lichens are complex symbiotic partnerships rather than single organisms and highlights discoveries that have changed scientists’ understanding of how these partnerships work. The article also examines their ecological importance, including their roles in building soil, fixing nitrogen, supporting wildlife, and serving as indicators of air quality and climate change. More broadly, it uses lichens to explore how cooperation and interconnectedness shape life and ecosystems.

Read the full article in The Seattle Times to discover how lichens can offer a window into the natural world.

‘See the whole world in lichens,’ the marvels that grow anywhere | The Seattle Times