Often growing unnoticed on rocks or trees, lichens are a symbiotic combination of a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium, and these organisms will be introduced during a walk planned at a Pittsburgh green space.
The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will be hosting a visit to the trails at Hays Woods to look for lichens. Everyone will meet up at the Agnew Road trailhead, and subject matter experts Stephen Bucklin and Laura Kuster will serve as guides for the outing.
The venue is the city’s newest park, and the participants will discover the species of lichens that call it home and also how they can be used as indicators of air quality. Some are highly sensitive to environmental pollutants, hence there will be some discussion about the quality of the air in the city. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and everyone should bring a bottle of water.
A nature hike offers a way to make learning about the environment fun and interactive. Print shops can provide an assortment of custom products that may be useful for an activity, including basic field guides and registration Forms.
Pittsburgh's residents who would like to get the inside scoop on lichens and how they tell the story of an area’s air quality can take part in the walk on Saturday, November 7 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The trailhead can be found at 1015 Agnew Road in Pittsburgh. Get a Free Quote for Forms Get a Free Quote for Print
