Humans hunt this species heavily for meat, fur and antlers. The usnic acid content helps Reindeer to break down fat reserves during the winter months. Reindeer lichen grows in woodlands, coniferous forests, lowland bogs, mountains and alpine tundra. In temperate and subtropical regions, open rock outcrops or patches of bare ground or sand provide habitat for reindeer lichens (Thomson, 1967). A specific biome in which this lichen is represented is the Boreal forests of Canada.[6]. [5] Common Name: Reindeer Lichen, Reindeer moss, Caribou moss, Reindeer moss lichen - The lichen is one of the primary food sources for reindeer (Rangifer tarandus); their North American counterparts are called caribou. Reindeer moss is usually found on moors and heathland, often growing in pockets of soil attached to rocky outcrops. severe degradation of lichen habitats. Cladonia portentosa. Many lichens are known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution, and they have been used as 'indicators' species (3). It grows in both hot and cold climates in well-drained, open environments. Reindeer live in some of the coldest places on earth. About the Plant Cladonia rangiferina is also known as Reindeer Moss, Caribou Moss, and Reindeer Lichen. Lichen are able to absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere and break down rock, creating nutrient-dense soil in the process which in turn leads to colonisation in that ecosystem by plants and animals. It prefers well-drained, sandy, usually acidic soils and areas that provide partial shade. Habitats Lichens can grow in almost any habitat, but are most common in forests, bogs, sand barrens, cliff faces and talus, rock outcrops, and cemeteries. It has no roots and receives moisture from rain, morning dew and humid air. Reindeer lichen grows to a height of 1 to 4 inches. They are the only deer species in which both the male and female can grow antlers. They are herbivores, and eat grasses, lichens, leaves, and in captivity, hay. - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock Average Weight: 60 to 300kg (132 - 660 lbs) Average Length: 160 to 200 cm long (5.3 - 6.6 feet) plus a short tail of 14 - 20 cm (6 - 8 inches), 80 to 150cm (2.6 - 4.9 feet) tall at the shoulder. Woodland caribou are diet specialists, utilizing lichen-rich habitat for forage during winter months. The lichen's highly branched growth pattern known as fruticose is similar in appearance to moss. Xanthoparmelia in a dry sclerophyll macrohabitat. In some places, the growth is so luxuriant that lichens are used as fodder for cattle. Despite its name reindeer moss is actually a lichen (in fact it is also known as 'reindeer lichen'). The photobiont associated with the reindeer lichen is Trebouxia irregularis. They eat it plain or, preferably, mixed with berries, fish eggs, or lard. Scientific Name: Cladonia rangiferina - The generic name… They can colonize rocks, but are also found growing on fertile soils. In this context, several thesis topics are available. Cladonia pseudorangiformis has been found on soil, but in Minnesota this lichen grows on sunny rock outcrops and ledges in areas that are moist and cool, and probably have high humidity. Reindeer are herbivores meaning they are plant eaters. Forest management and reindeer husbandry represent two … Because reindeer love lichen so much it is sometimes called “reindeer lichen.” In the winter reindeer will look for food under the snow. There are two varieties, or ecotypes: tundra reindeer and forest (or woodland) reindeer. It is considered as very delicate compared to other plants when it comes to overgrazing and trampling on by human deeds, as well as disasters such as fires. There are several species of reindeer lichen that can be found in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Smallest subspecies of reindeer, endemic to Svalbard. C. rangiferina forms extensive mats up to 10 cm tall. Reindeer also spent more time resting during the winter and less time foraging for food than in the summer. American reindeer have mainly brown coats with darker legs, while Asian and European reindeer are … [7] Food items. Ecology Habitats. We chose this species because it is a common representative of the shrub-like reindeer lichens, which are of ecological significance in the ground layer of subalpine–alpine, boreal and subarctic habitats of the Northern Hemisphere. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/rata/all.html Reindeer mosses are not native to any specific continent. They live in the Northern parts of North America in Canada and Alaska. [13], . Reindeer Moss contains high amounts of carbohydrates and vitamins A and B, and is low on protein. The branching is at a smaller angle than that of Cladonia portentosa. To survive in these different environments, they basically have two different nutritional strategies; one for summer and one for winter. The chemical in litmus paper ( which indicates acid or base) is also made from lichen. You've already seen this in the brick versus mortar example of the previous paragraph. [3] The color is grayish, whitish or brownish grey. In North America, reindeer are known as caribou – pronounced ‘kar-i-boo!’ 2) As the name suggests, reindeer are a species of deer. In this symbiosis, the fungi provide structure, nutrients, and protection that allow the algae to photosynthesize and produce sugars for the fungi. While these animals are found across the globe in polar regions, they are found in generally one of two types of habitats. 2014). The harshness of reindeer habitat—frigid and ecologically homogenous boreal forests, windswept and seasonally frozen tundra—makes it all the more incredible that such massive herds of these animals can survive in these places. Reindeer lichen, like many lichens, is slow growing (3–5 mm per … Much like deer, reindeer feed on grasses, leaves of shrubs and trees, mosses, and herbs. In areas of alpine tundra, while brown bears predate reindeer calves in May related to,... Of climate and, thus, are found everywhere ranging from hot deserts to chilly mountains lichens ( spp... In protein at … AUTHORSHIP and CITATION: Munger, Gregory T. 2008 cold climates in,. Receive emails about plants and Plantlife ’ s work claimed 200 reindeer in Europe not to pass on your to! Areas that provide partial shade as lichen, moss, willow and birch leaves sedges. As fruticose are often misleading in its appearance to moss several centimetres high is a threatened species fact is... 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