Scientist Measuring Lichen on Granite in Muzaffarpur

Bright tropical sunlight floods the midsummer afternoon, illuminating a patch of rough grey granite in Muzaffarpur. A researcher stands over the stone, holding a white ruler card flat against the rock surface to measure lichen plots. The granite texture shows deep fissures and patches of pale green and yellow crusts that have grown over years. Humid air hangs heavy after recent rain, leaving the stone slightly darker where moisture settles in the crevices. The composition centers the ruler perfectly against the rock, creating a symmetrical grid of measurement marks. Shadows from the ruler fall sharply across the lichen, defining the scale of the biological growth against the mineral background. A small drop of water rests on the edge of the ruler card, reflecting the sky above.