Program Description: This program will cover the biology, ecology, and diversity of lichens with a focus of those in North Carolina. 

Presenter Bio: Gary Perlmutter is an Herbarium Associate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium and its de facto lichen curator. Originally from southern California, he first became interested in lichens and lichenology while studying at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as an independent researcher in 1996. Gary took his skills, curiosity and starter collection of about 25 specimens from a lichen workshop in Santa Barbara to North Carolina where he has been active in collecting, studying and teaching lichen classes and workshops since his arrival in 2003. In 2016 Gary has earned a M.S. degree from North Carolina State University with the thesis: “Assessing Highway Pollution Effects on Forest Lichen Communities in Western Wake County, North Carolina, USA.” Gary has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and newsletters from 2005 to present. In addition, Gary maintains the North Carolina lichen checklist online, which boasts a diversity of over 1500 species!

Programs begin at 7PM but come a little early and socialize with us. As with all our programs, this one is free and open to all!