As you can see in the pictures above, the tree is located within walking distance from South Green Drive. From the tree, it took about four to five steps to reach the road.
This tree is identified as a maple tree because of the distinguishable opposite leaf arrangement. This tree has simple leaves which means that it has single leafs instead of multiple, smaller leaflets. Located below are the template measurement pictures that indicates the direction and the lichen in each quadrant. The lichen grading scale has been implemented ranging from zero to three. The zero indicates that there is no lichen present and the 3 indicates that the lichen covers over 10% of the specific quadrant.
This picture indicates the North side of the tree.
This picture indicates the South side of the tree.
This picture indicates the West side of the tree.
The numbers below indicate the amount of lichen in each quadrant.
To find the standard deviation, a measurement used to show the variation there is from the average mean, you must first calculate the grand total of the values and divide by the total amount of values in each quadrant.
North quadrant: 2-3-2-1 Total = 8
South quadrant: 0-0-0-0 Total = 0
East quadrant: 2-0-0-0 Total = 2
West quadrant: 1-0-0-0 Total = 1
Grand total = 11
11/16 = .688
The next step is to determine the difference of each data point from the average and square the results.
0 - .688 = (-.688)^2 = .473
1 - .688 = (.312)^2 = .097
2 - .688 = (1.312)^2 = 1.72
3 - .688 = (2.31)^2 = 5.34
Lastly, you must determine the average of these values and take the square root of all of them accordingly You must divide but the total number (16) minus 1. In this case I will be indicating the square root function with brackets.
[1.72 + 5.34 + 1.72 + .097 + .473 + .473 + .473 + .473 + .097 + .473 +.473 +.473 + 1.72 + .473 + .473 + .473/ (16 - 1)]
The calculated standard deviation for this specific tree is 1.01.
So, What is a Lichen?
According to Decoded Science, lichens are considered to be a hybrid and have a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. Most fungi are not able to survive on their own and need algae as a partner. Since lichen has a fungal part, it is able to produce its own food through photosynthesis. By cohabiting with fungus, the algae is able to live within a variety of different environments. This relationship is both beneficial to both parties because the fungal part of the lichen needs food from photosynthesis and the algae part of the lichen bonded to the fungus makes the environment it can live in have a wider variety than an algae on it's own.
The Relationship Between Lichen and Air Quality
Lichens are an excellent indicator for long term air quality. Certain species such as Usnea are only capable of growing in areas with good air quality. Other species are able to grow in environments to indicate poor air quality. This is extremely useful in locating the air quality in a specific location, Overtime, the changes in lichen species can reveal changes in the air quality. According to Concord.org, hardy lichens can be used as bioindicators, especially for sulfur dioxide. These bioindicators are considered living organisms that respond in a way that changes the environment.
Who is Beatrix Potter and what is Her Contribution to the Lichen Study?
The Scientist states that Beatrix Potter was the first person in Britain to write a scientific paper on the topic of symbiosis in lichen. She conducted experiments in her kitchen and recorded all of her observations of algal and fungal properties.
Candellara Sp. Yellow
CNALH states that Candellara is a yellow colored lichen that is located on rock or bark often in relatively eutrophicated habitats. They are located in pan-artic and southwards into north temperate regions.
(http://www.lichens.ie/lichen-descriptions/foliose/candelaria-concolor/)
Physica Sp. Blue/Green
This is a type of algae that is found on bark and can grow in urban areas and can even grow in areas of forestation. The color is noted as greenish, blueish, or gray.
Methodology
When looking for a tree to observe, you must find a large enough tree to collect data from and it must be a tree with alternating branches. When measuring the lichen, it is important to measure three feet above the ground because it is around the area of peak prime growth and a breeding area. The equipment used for this experiment was the four quadrant tool. This was important in collecting the accurate amount of data for each 4" x 4" area. This data will be used for graduate research at Ohio University to observe the amount of lichen in certain locations on campus to observe the air quality.
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