Lichen speckled rock outcroppings! Go on, say it aloud for poetic effect. Lichens abound in these high desert mountains, being that they’re so drought-tolerant. They provide food, shelter, and building materials for many animals, including deer, elk, birds, and insects. Aaaand they are good indicators of air quality, so they’re all over the Rocky Mountains. Each lichen is a combination of a fungus and an algae that live in a symbiotic relationship. The fungus provides structure for the algae, and the algae provides food for the fungus.