iN PHOTOS: A look at the miniature world of lichens in Kamloops, Okanagan

Lichens can be found hanging in long colourful wisps from trees and growing on rocks and branches in Kamloops and the Okanagan, and the little organisms are remarkable for a variety of reasons.

Lichens come in all different colours and forms, and have existed for a millennia, due to some unique traits, and they are a valuable part of forest ecosystems.

A lichen isn’t a plant, it’s a combination of a fungus and algae that work together, with the fungus providing the structure and the algae doing the photosynthesis, according to Island Nature.

The organisms don’t need roots to survive, just adequate light and moisture so they can be found living on tree trunks, rocks and the ground.

The remarkable organisms can survive at high elevations in wet and dry conditions. They can also reproduce both sexually and asexually, increasing their odds of survival.

There are at least 1,300 species of lichens in the province and they have an important role in our forest ecosystems.

Lichens hold and retain water which prevents runoff and moderates forest temperatures, and return nitrogen to soils when they decay.

They are a crucial source of winter food for several wildlife species, especially in the northern parts of the province, and are used by other species for nesting material.

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Although the organisms have found ways to survive, they are vulnerable to air pollution and climate change as they are made up mostly of nutrients from the air, in fact they can be studied to identify what pollutants are in the air.

Winter is the best time to photograph lichens as they are most colourful when wet. Some area photographers took up close snaps of a few different species.

If you have nature photos you want to share, send them to news@infonews.ca.