Author Description

The northern Rockies is one of the few regions remaining in the US with a nearly intact lichen flora. As an area relatively untouched by air pollution, it offers one of the best opportunities to study effects of our degrading global air quality. Lichen studies are also useful in monitoring local changes in air quality. Furthermore, there is much to learn about the ecology of lichens in natural ecosystems, and our area provides more of these than any other area in the conterminous US. As such it is imperative that we learn not only which species grow in the area, but something of their distribution and abundance. It is hoped this manual will facilitate studies by both newcomers and old hands in lichenology, by providing an easy-to-use guide to the macrolichens.