Natural History Photographs





Iceland is situated on top of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, which becomes very tangible in the Þingvellir National park. The spreading of the North American and the European plate becomes highly visible in a series of cracks or faults, the largest one, Almannagjá, being an impressive canyon. For this reason, the park is one of the must-sees of Iceland. However, most tourists will be oblivious to a somewhat less obvious richness, that of lichens - unknown, unloved. For everyone who does recognize lichens and appreciates them, this is another reason to visit the park!



Touching America and Europe within a minute is a very special thing to do!
Vespula rufa
Authority:(Linnaeus 1758)
Nederlands:Rode wesp
Deutsch:Rote Wespe
Pertusaria corallina
Nederlands:Granietspeldenkussentje
English:White Coral-crusted lichen
Deutsch:Korallen-Porenflechte
Svenska:stiftlav
The black speckles are a parasite on the lichen.
Dibaeis baeomyces
Nederlands:Roze heikorst
English:Pink earth lichen
Deutsch:Rosa Köpfchenflechte
Svenska:klubblav
Solorina bispora
English:Chocolate chip lichen
Deutsch:Zweisporige Sackflechte
Norsk:liten skållav
Svenska:tvåsporig säcklav
Stereocaulon spec. &
Thamnolia vermicularis
Deutsch:Echte Würmchenflechte, Totengebein
Svenska:masklav
Stereocaulon tomentosum
Nederlands:Behaard korrelloof
English:Wooly foam lichen
Deutsch:Filzige Korallenflechte
Svenska:luddig påskrislav
Cladonia spec.
Nederlands:Heidestaartje en Bekermos
Arthrorhaphis alpina
Deutsch:Alpen-Gliederstäbchenflechte
Svenska:slät citrinellav
Cetraria aculeata & C. islandica
Nederlands:Kraakloof
English:Iceland lichens
Svenska:islandslavar
Psoroma hypnorum
English:Green moss shingle
Deutsch:Grünalgen-Erdschüssel
Norsk:skjellfiltlav
Svenska:skållav
Peltigera spec.
Norsk:årenever
Svenska:filtlavar
Peltigera leucophlebia
Nederlands:Bleekgroen leermos
English:Ruffled freckle pelt
Deutsch:Adrige Apfelflechte
Norsk:åregrønnever
Svenska:ådrig torsklav


Most Peltigera's - like the brownish one above - are symbioses between a fungus and a cyanobaterium. This green Peltigera cf. leucophlebia is a so-called tripartite symbiosis: it consists of a fungus, a green algal symbiont and a cyanobaterial symbiont. The caynobacterial symbiont is housed in the so-called cephalodia, the dark 'warts' sprinkled over the thallus. The cyanobacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen, definitely an asset in the nutrient-poor soils these lichens grow on.
Placopsis cf. gelida
Nederlands:Grote zeepkorst
English:Flesh-coloured alpine lichen
Deutsch:Braunes Bullenauge
Svenska:knöllav


Another example of a tri-partite symbiosis. The cyanobacteria are housed in the brown cephalodia.