Most people don't think of lichens as interesting, nor do they

Physcia stellaris - Star Rosette Lichens found at Ignatius Jesuit Centre Photo taken by Troy McMullin, used with permission

pay much attention to them. However, lichens, like most of the tiny organisms found in nature, play extremely important roles in maintaining the health of an ecosystem and adding to biodiversity. Lichens in particular, are important indicator species for air quality. As University of Guelph researcher and lichenologist, Troy McMullin said to me, "Lichens are like the canaries in a coal mine." This metaphor is quite fitting, as lichens are highly sensitive to slight fluctuations in air quality, as was the case when canaries were used to give advanced warning of dangerous gases in coal mines.

Of why he was interested in researching lichens at Ignatius, Troy said:

"I was inspired to do research at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre because of the Old-Growth Forest Project and the essential habitat that these forests provide. Old-growth forests are rare and in decline in southern Ontario, which means organisms that rely on these unique ecosystems have limited places to live. To understand the conservation value of such forests the species that inhabit them need to be documented. I am assessing what lichens are on the property because they are a particularly sensitive group of organisms that are well known for their specific habitat requirements, and many species are only known to colonize old-growth forests. Knowing what species are present at Ignatius provides a snapshot of the current state of the forests, but it also provides a baseline so that changes, such as new species colonization, can be determined as the forests develop over the next 500 years."

Thanks to funding provided by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph from London, we were able to hire Troy to complete baseline lichen research that will be used as an important tool for monitoring the Ignatius Old-Growth Forest in the future. And what a great coincidence that Sister Nancy Wales of the Sisters of St. Joseph has a keen interest in lichens, having experienced their importance while ministering in Yellowknife for 22 years!

And on a final lichen note, congratulations to ecologist and Jesuit priest Fr. John McCarthy, SJ on his discovery of a new species of lichen in his home province of Newfoundland, aptly named Acarospora maccarthyi (Latin spelling rules dictate the extra 'a'). Fr. John is a long-time friend of the Guelph Jesuit community. It just so happens that he and our lichen researcher Troy McMullin know each other well and have worked together in the past. Read more about Fr. John's discovery in the Catholic Register.