While hiking in the sagebrush grasslands I hiked around a series of rock outcrops to view some crustose lichens.    Lichens are a result of symbiosis between a fungus and algae.   The fungus provides structure/protection and the algae provide nutrients through photosynthesis.   Crustose lichens grow on and attach to rock or wood and have no bottom, but have a hard upper surface.   Some photos of the crustose lichens I spotted are provided here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

elegant sunburst lichen

rimmed navel lichen

sagebrush goldspeck lichen

Identifications are not specifically provided, although best guesses include rimmed naval lichens (Rhizoplaca), elegant sunburst lichens (Rusavskia elegans), sagebrush goldspeck lichen (Candellariella rosulans), and members of the Xanthorioideae subfamily.    Some of the crustose lichens require work careful inspection, and possibly some work with a microscope to accurately confirm the identities.  

A YouTube video is shared here to provide more information.

We will be observing more crustose lichens in the higher elevation forests to compare and contrast in the weeks ahead.