Rikke Reese Næsborg, Ph.D.
“Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.” — Jane Goodall
Rikke Reese Næsborg, Ph.D., is the Ken and Shirley Tucker lichenologist and curator of the Lichenarium at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. She is interested in investigating lichen community composition and ecology in order to identify why different lichen species are distributed differently across landscapes. Another major interest is conservation of lichens — a complicated task that is only possible by expanding knowledge of lichen distribution and ecology. Rikke earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at University of Southern Denmark and went on to earn a doctorate in systematic botany from Uppsala University in Sweden. She has lived in California since 2011.
Research interests: lichenology, community composition, lichen ecology, lichen conservation
Publications
2024
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles:
Reese Næsborg, R. 2024. Lichens—The Hidden Biodiversity of Redwood Forests. Sempervirens Fund News. (https://sempervirens.org/news/lichens/)
2023
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles:
Recovery of Dudleya verity K. Nakai after severe fire by reestablishment of lichen communities. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, CA.
San Nicolas Island Lichen Survey: An Island Checklist and Vouchers for DNA Barcoding. Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island Terrestrial Flora Program. Cooperative Agreement # N62473-19-0003
Presentations:
Reed College, OR: “Tiny Critters on Giant Trees”
Catalina Conservancy, CA: “Lichens are fascinating”
Catalina Conservancy, CA: Lichen ecology walk at Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, Catalina Island
Botany 2023, Boise, ID: “Unofficially rare lichens are rarely officially rare: Lichen conservation is complicated”
Posters:
The 10th International Conference on Serpentine Ecology (ICSE) “Ultramafic lichens: an ecological investigation of an understudied organism in a well-studied system” Mulroy, M., Dart, J., Williams, C., Reese Næsborg, R., Fryday, A. Johnston, S., Rajakaruna, N.
2022
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Gotsch, S.G., C.B. Williams, R. Bicaba, R. Cruz-de Hoyos, A. Darby, K. Davidson, M. Dix, V. Duarte, A. Glunk, L. Green, B. Ferguson, K. Muñoz-Elizondo, J.G. Murray, I. Picado-Fallas, R. Reese Nӕsborg, T.E. Dawson & N. Nadkarni. 2022. Trade-offs between succulent and non-succulent epiphytes underlie variation in drought tolerance and avoidance. Oecologia 198: 645–661.
Mueller G.M., K. Martins Cunha, T.W. May, J.L. Allen, J.R.S. Westrip, C. Canteiro, D. Henrique Costa-Rezende, E.R. Drechsler-Santos, A.M. Vasco-Palacios, M. Ainsworth, G. Alves-Silva, F. Bungartz, A. Chandler, S.C. Gonçalves, I. Krisai-Greilhuber, R. Iršėnaitė, J.B. Jordal, T. Kosmann, J. Lendemer, R.T. McMullin, A. Mešić, V. Motato-Vásquez, Y. Ohmura, R. Reese Næsborg, C. Perini, I. Saar, D. Simijaca, R. Yahr, & A. Dahlberg. 2022. What do the first 597 global fungal Red List assessments tell us about the threat status of fungi? Diversity 14(9): 736. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/9/736
Mulroy, M., A.M. Fryday, A. Gersoff, J. Dart, R. Reese Næsborg, & N. Rajakaruna. 2022. Lichens of ultramafic substrates in North America: A Review. Botany 100(8): 593–617. Doi: 10.1139/cjb-2021-0187.
Ostertag, R., C. Restrepo, J.W. Dalling, P.H. Martin, I. Abiem, S-I. Aiba, E. Alvarez-Dávila, R. Aragón, M. Ataroff, H. Chapman, A.Y. Cueva-Agila, B. Fadrique, R.D. Fernandez, G. González, S.G. Gotsch, A. Häger, J. Homeier, C. Iñiguez-Armijos, L.D. Llambí, G.W. Moore, R. Reese Næsborg, L.N. Poma López, P.V. Pompeu, J.R. Powell, J.A. Ramirez Correa, K. Scharnagl, C. Tobón, & C.B Williams. 2022. Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate. BioTropica 54(2): 309–326. Doi: 10.1111/btp.13044
Reese Næsborg, R. 2022. Lichens rock! (Even though they are affected by tree genetics). The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 103(2): e01959.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2022. Ramalina menziesii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T213314289A213315130. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T213314289A213315130.en.
Reese Næsborg, R., H. Root, & D. Stone. 2022. Trapeliopsis bisorediata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T194674651A213314933. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T194674651A213314933.en.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2022. Xylopsora canopeorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T194662559A213315050. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T194662559A213315050.en.
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles:
Reese Næsborg, R. & C.B. Williams. 2022. The Amazing Coast Redwood. Ironwood 31(2): 6.
Recovery of Dudleya verity K. Nakai after severe fire by reestablishment of lichen communities. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, CA
Presentations:
CNPS- San Luis Obispo Chapter, CA “Tiny Critters on Giant Trees”
Northwest Lichenologist Meeting, CA | “California Macrolichen Guide”
Posters:
California Native Plant Society Conference, San Jose, CA. “Visualizing floristic patterns of California’s rare lichens” Ward, D., Reese Næsborg, R.
2021
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Allen, J., R. Yahr, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Canoparmelia caroliniana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194662208A194678189. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194662208A194678189.en
Allen, J., R. Yahr, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, L. Calabria, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Flavoparmelia baltimorensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194662214A194678194. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194662214A194678194.en
Allen, J., R. Yahr, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Melanohalea halei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194662493A194678204. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194662493A194678204.en
Allen, J., R. Yahr, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, M. Hodges, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, A. Spielmann, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmotrema perforatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194661584A194678159. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194661584A194678159.en
Reese Næsborg, R., M.K. Lau, R. Michalet, C.B. Williams, & T.G. Whitham. 2021. Tree genotypes affect rock lichens and understory plants: examples of trophic-independent interactions. Ecology 103(2): e03589.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2021. Calicium sequoiae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T 180412795A184974492. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180412795/184974492
Williams, C.B., R. Reese Næsborg, A.R. Ambrose, W.L. Baxter, G.W. Koch, T.E. Dawson. 2021. The dynamics of stem water storage in the tops of Earth’s largest trees—Sequoiadendron giganteum. Tree Physiology 41(12): 2262–2278. DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpab078
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmelia saxatilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194660573A194678129. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194660573A194678129.en
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmelia squarrosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194660642A194678134. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194660642A194678134.en
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmeliopsis ambigua. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194660719A194678139. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194660719A194678139.en
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmeliopsis hyperopta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194660868A194678144. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194660868A194678144.en
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, A. Spielmann, R. Vargas, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmotrema crinitum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194661476A194678149. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194661476A194678149.en
Yahr, R., J. Allen, C. Lymbery, R. Batallas-Molina, F. Bungartz, M. Dal Forno, N. Howe, J. Lendemer, T. McMullin, A. Mertens, H. Paquette, M. Petix, R. Reese Næsborg, F. Roberts, S. Sharrett, & J. Villella. 2021. Parmotrema hypotropum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T194661553A194678154. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T194661553A194678154.en
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles
Reese Næsborg, R. 2021. Recovery of Dudleya verity K. Nakai after severe fire by reestablishment of lichen communities. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, CA. 8 pages.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2021. Gap analysis of California Channel Islands: Lichens. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California. 36 pages.
Presentations
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Advisory Committee, CA | “California Macrolichen Guide”
2020
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R. 2020. Niebla ramosissima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T175709793A175710677. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175709793A175710677.en
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles
Reese Næsborg, R. 2020. Recovery of Dudleya verity K. Nakai after severe fire by reestablishment of lichen communities. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, CA. 7 pages.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2020. Rare and endangered. Niebla ramosissima. Ironwood 28 (2): 19.
2019
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R., E.B. Peterson, & Tibell. 2019. Chaenotheca longispora (Coniocybaceae),a new lichen from coast redwood trees in California, U.S.A. The Bryologist 122: 31–37.
Presentations
International Society of Arboriculture, Eugene, OR | “Remember to look up… What can we learn by climbing giant trees?”
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Summer Sips Series, Santa Barbara, CA | “What do wines and lichens have in common”
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Board of Trustees | “Extreme Lichenizing. Exploring the tallest trees for lichen diversity”
California Native Plant Society – San Luis Obispo | “Lichens are fascinating”
2018
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Bendiksby, M, R. Reese Næsborg, & E. Timdal. 2018. Xylopsora canopeorum (Umbilicariaceae), a new lichen species from the canopy of Sequoia sempervirens. MycoKeys 30: 1–15.
Presentations
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden | “California Lichens: Awareness and Conservation”
Monteverde Biologist Meeting | “Lichens are fascinating”
Tingkær School, Denmark (first–ninth grade) | “Exploring giant trees”
2017
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R. 2017. Lichen Conservation is Complicated. Fremontia 45: 8–11.
Williams, C.B., R. Reese Næsborg, & T.E. Dawson. 2017. Coping with gravity: the foliar water relations of giant sequoia. Tree Physiology 37: 1312-1326.
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles
Reese Næsborg, R. 2017. Elusive epiphytes on the tallest trees. What’s up? The Newsletter of the International Canopy Network 22: 1–2.
Presentations
ESA, Portland, OR | “Tiny epiphytes on tall trees. What factors drive epiphyte community composition?”
2016
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Ambrose, A.R., W.L. Baxter, C.S. Wong, S.S.O. Burgess, C.B. Williams, R. Reese Næsborg, G.W. Koch, & T.E. Dawson. 2016. Hydraulic constraints modify optimal photosynthetic profiles in giant sequoia trees. Oecologia 182: 713–730.
Technical Reports & Non-peer Reviewed Articles
Reese Næsborg, R. 2016. Keys to lichens of North America: revised and expanded. Book review. Mycotaxon 231: 259–260.
Presentations
Berkeley Lions Club, CA | “Tiny critters on giant trees. What’s growing on up there?”
University and Jepson Herbaria Botany Lunch Series, UC Berkeley, CA | “Tiny critters on giant trees. What’s growing on up there?”
8th International Association of Lichenologists Symposium, Helsinki, Finland | “Is climate or habitat variation more important for epiphyte richness? A case study from redwood forests”
Sonoma County Mycological Association Camp, CA | “Lichens (and other epiphytes) in the Canopy”
Sonoma County Mycological Association Camp, CA | “From the Fascinating World of Lichens”
2015
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Ambrose, A.R., W.L. Baxter, C.S. Wong, R. Reese Næsborg, C.B. Williams, & T.E. Dawson. 2015. Contrasting drought response strategies in California redwoods. Tree Physiology 35: 453–469.
Lamit, L.J., M.K. Lau, R. Reese Næsborg, T. Wojtowicz, T.G. Whitham, & C.A. Gehring. 2015. Genotype specific host ontogeny is a robust driver of the rate of epiphytic lichen community assembly across contrasting environments. Ecology 96: 960–971.
Reese Næsborg, R. & C.B. Williams. 2015. Lichen diversity in Muir Woods National Monument. California Lichen Society Bulletin 22: 13–18.
2014
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R. & C.B. Williams. 2014. What’s in the trees in Muir Woods. California Lichen Society Bulletin 21: 20-25.
Presentations
Venetia Valley School, CA | “Lichens and bryophytes. What are they?”
California Academy of Sciences, CA | “Remember to look up. What can we learn by climbing giant trees?”
East Bay Science Café, CA | “From the Fascinating World of Lichens”
2011
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Lamit, L.J., M.A. Bowker, L.M. Holeski, R. Reese Næsborg, S.C. Wooley, M. Zinkgraf, R.L. Lindroth, T.G. Whitham, & C.A. Gehring. 2011. Genetically-based trait variation within a foundation tree species influences a dominant bark lichen. Fungal Ecology 4: 103–109.
Presentations
University and Jepson Herbaria Botany Lunch Series, UC Berkeley, CA | “Systematics and foundation species ecology — two stories about lichens”
2009
Presentations
Biology Department Seminar, Northern Arizona University | “Lichens, Lecania, and phylogenetic applications”
2008
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R. 2008. Taxonomic revision of the Lecania cyrtella group based on molecular and morphological evidence. Mycologia 100: 397–416.
Presentations
6th International Association of Lichenologists Symposium, Asilomar, CA | “Status of the phylogeny of the genus Lecania”
2007
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Reese Næsborg, R. & P.P.G. van den Boom. 2007. Lecania belgica van den Boom & Reese Næsborg, a new saxicolous species from western Europe. Lichenologist 39: 499–503.
Reese Næsborg, R. 2007. Disentangling Lecania. Ph.D. Thesis, Acta Universitatis Uppsaliensis.
Reese Næsborg, R., S. Ekman, & L. Tibell. 2007. Molecular phylogeny of the genus Lecania (Ramalinaceae, lichenized Ascomycota). Mycological Research 111: 581–591.
2006
Posters
8th International Mycological Conference, Cairns, Australia | “A phylogenetic study of Lecania and closely related genera”
2005
Presentations
Systematikdagarna, Stockholm, Sweden | “A phylogenetic study of Lecania and closely related genera”
2004
Posters
5th International Association of Lichenologists Symposium, Tartu, Estonia | “Lecania — phylogeny, generic delimitation, ecology, and a revision of the Swedish species”
1997
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Jervis, L., R. Reese Næsborg, & M. Brown. 1997. Biochemical responses of the marine macroalgae Ulva lactuca and Fucus vesiculosus to cadmium and copper—from sequestration to oxidative stress. Biochemical society transactions, 25(1), 63S-63S.
Insights
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What is a lichen?
If you Google the word “lichen” some of the results will invariably talk about the skin disease “lichen planus”. That is not what this insight…
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Rare Lichens in California
California is home to over 2000 species of lichens, but only 15 are considered rare or endangered by the state. This tiny percentage (0.73%) gives…