杏吧原创

(Image: Matthew Cicanese)

IT MIGHT look like an alien forest, but it鈥檚 really a glimpse of somewhere rather closer to home. In this strange realm, a huge variety of organisms form a complex web of interactions and relationships, all on a tiny scale.

The 鈥渢rees鈥� are really British Soldier lichen, Cladonia cristatella, named after the colour of British soldiers鈥� uniforms during the American revolution.听Lichen is one example of the interconnectedness of forest organisms, as it is formed of a fungus that shelters nourishing photosynthetic algae.听Deer, wild turkeys and voles all feed on this species.

Photographer Matthew Cicanese found the lichen while hiking in North Carolina. The image is part of a series that aims to show the beauty of organisms on the forest floor.

鈥淓arth鈥檚 biodiversity is being snuffed out by the exponential growth of the human population,鈥� he says. He wants 鈥渢o photograph these minuscule life forms in a way that voices the splendour and magnificence of their existence, and promotes the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity鈥�.

This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淭itbits for reindeer鈥�