Since Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer guided Santa’s sleigh through the fog on Christmas Eve with his glow-in-the-dark nose, people have pondered the secret behind his luminous nose. Now scientists at The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen think they may have found the answer: Lichens.

Lichens are part of the reindeer’ staple diet, and the organisms’ ability to withstand cold temperatures means that they are a particularly important source of nutrients for reindeer during the winter when food is scarce. Some species emit a fluorescent glow when exposed to UV light, much like the one emitted by Rudolph’s shiny nose. Could it be that the famous reindeer’s most renowned trait is due to his overindulgence in his favourite snack?

Plant ecologist Dr Andrea Britton, known as ‘The Lichen Lady,’ is an expert on the part fungus, part alga organisms. She has produced The Montane Heathland Lichen Guide to help people identify different species.

Dr Britton says, “Reindeer eat many different species of lichen, particularly Cladonias, and graze on them during the winter when a lot of other plants cannot survive. Their bodies contain a special enzyme called lichenase which helps them to digest the lichens that they eat. Some species of lichen are also known to glow when they have been exposed to UV light rays. So to help them make their way home safely, Santa’s reindeer might prefer families to leave a bundle of lichens out for them this Christmas instead of the usual carrots and cookies.”

There are about 2,000 species of lichen in Britain, many of which are likely to be found on the montane shrub and moss heaths in the mountains of Scotland, England and Wales. Lichens are an important part of biodiversity in the UK, yet they go largely unnoticed. Perhaps their status as one of Rudolph’s favourite foods will encourage people to be more aware of them the next time they are out walking in the countryside.

The Montane Heathland Lichen Guide is fully-illustrated with photographs to help users to pick the right sort of lichens for Santa’s reindeer. It costs £10.99, and can be purchased at www.macaulay.ac.uk/lichen , or by contacting The Macaulay Institute on 01224 298 200 or j.lund@macaulay.ac.uk

The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute was founded in 1930 and is an international centre for research and consultancy on the environmental and social consequences of rural land uses. With an annual income from research and consultancy of over £11m, the Institute is the largest interdisciplinary research organisation of its kind in Europe, and aims to provide evidence to help shape future environmental and rural-development policy on a national and international basis.

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Notes for editors

Dr Andrea Britton is available for interview.

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