Hidden in plain sight: Discovering the macro lichens of the American Southwest and Northern Mexico

1) Select a survey area using Forest Service, BLM, LANDFIRE, elevation, vegetation, hydrology, geology, and climate layers. The selected area should represent either a major regional habitat type or a specialized habitat expected to contribute substantially to local macrolichen diversity.

2) Delineate the survey area as a mapped rectangle before fieldwork. The rectangle should follow ecologically meaningful boundaries where possible, such as vegetation transitions, canyon walls, riparian zones, ridge systems, or changes in substrate.

3) Overlay a virtual grid across the survey polygon using GIS or GPS software. The grid is used to guide spatial coverage and reduce the tendency to concentrate only on visually rich portions of the habitat. Something similar to the image in notes. 

4) Assign a minimum of two surveyors to each site. Surveyors move through the mapped area using coordinated zigzag or meandering routes, ensuring that all major portions of the rectangle are examined.

5) Within each grid section, examine the full range of available microhabitats. These may/will include tree boles and branches, twigs, understory shrubs, exposed rock, boulders, soil, bryophyte mats, riparian margins, cliff bases, seeps, springs, soil, shaded canyon walls, and exposed ridges.

6) Record macrolichens across four primary substrate categories: epiphytic, saxicolous, terricolous, and musicolous.

7) Photograph every recorded taxon in situ whenever practical. Photographs should include the thallus, substrate, and broader habitat context when useful. However, common taxa will be photographed a single time in surveys.

8) Record ecological data. Foer example, record geographic coordinates, elevation, habitat type, substrate, dominant vegetation, slope, aspect, canopy conditions, and other relevant environmental observations for the survey area.

9) Track species detections through time. Record newly detected taxa at regular intervals, such as every 15–20 minutes, to evaluate whether the survey is approaching macrolichen taxa saturation.

10) Continue active searching for a minimum standardized survey period, with two hours serving as the initial benchmark. If new taxa continue to be encountered, extend the survey until a predetermined no-new-species interval is reached.

11) Record rare, unusual, poorly documented, or potentially undescribed taxa whenever encountered, even if they fall outside the primary survey path. These records will be clearly identified as supplemental observations. Nonetheless, incredibly important to our study. 

12) Collect representative voucher specimens when sufficient material is available and collection is permitted. Priority should be given to specimens requiring laboratory confirmation, DNA barcoding, or documentation of new or poorly known regional records.

13) Collect representative voucher specimens when sufficient material is available. Special attention needs be given for adding as much specimen metadata to field packet including attaching a scanning barcode to voucher packet. Priority should be given to specimens requiring laboratory confirmation, DNA barcoding, or documentation of new or poorly known regional records.

14) After fieldwork, identify specimens using morphology, microscopy, chemical tests, and DNA barcoding where necessary.

15) After fieldwork, identify specimens using morphology, microscopy, chemical tests, and DNA barcoding where necessary.

16) Compile the verified observations into an updated regional species list and use repeated surveys to identify habitats requiring additional sampling.