HansJun 29

On two adjacent rocks I found this Hidden Goldspeck (Candelaria aurella) lichen.
It's interesting how this lichen only spreads out on one of the rocks in straight lines.
It is probably a matter of different layers of rock, of which I unfortunately understand nothing.
Does anyone know anything about this?

#lichen #lichensubscribe #naturephotography #rocks #closeup

Show threadJohn Faithfull 🌍πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ§‘βœŠπŸ»βœŠπŸΏJun 29
@Hagukh Lovely! And very interesting distribution on the rock surface. Lichens often seem to have strong views about their rocky substrates. I've often thought it would be good to know more 😁
Show threadHansJun 29
@FaithfullJohn Oh yes, I see so many different rocks here and realize that I'm going from having little to more and more interest in them...
Show threadJohn Faithfull 🌍πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ§‘βœŠπŸ»βœŠπŸΏJun 29
@Hagukh I think some of the factors may be chemical (ie the tastiness or toxicity of the underlying minerals in the rock), but I suspect that surface morphology of mineral grains, and crack density/depth distribution, might also be things they care about. If only we could ask πŸ€“. Or rather, if only they could tell us! 😁
Show threadJohn Faithfull 🌍πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ§‘βœŠπŸ»βœŠπŸΏ
@Hagukh ...also I think that banded patterns of distribution can arise by self-organisation even where the substrate is homogenous. πŸ€”
Jun 30 at 6:50amWeb
Show threadHansJun 30

Yes, perhaps.
It is known that some lichens can have a typical pattern. However, this is not the case with this lichen.
This lichen prefers to grow on calcareous soil. After all the responses to my post, I think that in this case thin layers of limestone in the sedimentary rock are probably the cause of the lichen spreading in thin strips on the rock.

@FaithfullJohn