A lichen is an organism made up of algae or bacteria enclosed within a fungus . You are tough and can dry out, but are easily revived with water. The bacteria or algae part of you produces energy and food with the help of the sun, while the fungus part provides water and minerals. It is a unique partnership, and an important one for natural communities. Oh, Electis, without lichens I doubt that either of us would be here now, whispered Metlo with awe.
Lichens are pioneer species.
They are among the first organisms to colonize an area. The sort of lichen that you are, a dragon-skin lichen, is also important for fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to the rest of the forest ecosystem. When you are blown down from the canopy during a windstorm, your body supplies deer, bugs, and other animals with essential food. If you decompose on the forest floor, the nitrogen that was within you will be replaced within the soil, and henceforth into the plants and animals around you. A healthy population of lichens in your ecosystem indicates that your air is good, your soil is full of nitrogen, and your entire ecosystem has a stable foundation from which to grow.