Sonora Desert Lichen Flora

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A cooperative, international investigation of the lichens (both micro-and macrolichens) of the greater Sonoran Desert region (Arizona, southern California, Baja California, Sonora and Northern Sinaloa) is proposed. The lichen taxa will be revised with near monographic precision for the purpose of writing a modern Flora (for systematists and other professional botanists - with both English and Spanish editions) and popular manual (for naturalists and conservationists). Because the Sonoran Desert includes a significant number of Class I areas (Clean Air Act) and because lichens are excellent indicators of air pollution, it is anticipated that the flora will have considerable utility to land managers in both the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Services (both U.S. and Mexican). Liason is established with four institutions within Mexico and collaboration and with over 40 prominent lichen systematists worldwide. A second purpose of the proposal is to improve the scientific infrastructure of Mexico so that lichenological studies dealing with lichen biodiversity and conservation issues (e.g. preservation of coastal fog zone communities) can be pursued there.