California Lichen Society (CALS) citizen scientists and researchers study fungi to understand their diversity and conservation in ecosystems
1/11 | Mystical and microscopic: fungi reveal vital secrets in science. Gina Min, a member of the California Lichen Society (CALS), looks closely at a Lichen fungus on a large rock during a hike at the McLaughlin Preserve at the University of California, Davis, in Lower Lake, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) -Jeff Chiu