Oldgrowth Specklebelly

Pseudocyphellaria rainierensis

A lichen is an organism comprised of a fungus and an alga in close symbiotic association. The oldgrowth specklebelly lichen is only found in the pacific northwest in old-growth forests, and is widely but sparsely distributed, occuppying five different climate sub-zones. The lichen is highly sensitive to logging, which is blamed for the extirpation of one population on Vancouver Island. It is very slow at becoming established due to complex habitat requirements, and is not likely to establish itself in the plantation forests that replace the old-growth forests after clear-cutting.