International Journal of Scientific Research in ______________________________ Research Paper .
Biological Sciences
Vol.6, Issue.1, pp.97-104, February (2019)
E-ISSN: 2347-7520
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26438/ijsrbs/v6i1.97104
Diversity of Lichens along Elevational Gradients in Forest Ranges of
Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka State
S. Rashmi1, H. G. Rajkumar2*
1
PG Department of Botany, JSS college of Arts, Commerce and Science, Ooty road, Mysore, Karnataka, India
Department of studies in Botany, Manasagangotri, University of Mysore, Mysore 570 006, Karnataka, India
2
*Corresponding Author: dr.hgrajkumar@botany.uni-mysore.ac.in Telephone No.: +91-821-2419757, 2419758,
Available online at: www.isroset.org
Received: 01/Feb/2019, Accepted: 14/Feb/2019, Online: 28/Feb/2019
Abstract— The lichen species richness in Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka, India were assessed using altitudinal gradient,
in order to compare distribution patterns of different growth forms, dominant families and diversity index. Four major forest
ranges, Biligiriranga Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills, Malay Mahadeshwara Hills, and Shivanasamudra Falls were
surveyed and a total of 97 lichens, belonging to 47 genera and 25 families were recorded. Physciaceae was found to be
dominant family by 18 species under 8 genera, followed by Parmeliaceae with 16 species under 4 genera. Crustose type was
dominated with 51%, followed by foliose type with 38%. Malay Mahadeshwara hills had highest lichen species richness and
harboured 67 species, of which, 36 species were crustose type and 28 species were foliose type. Shannon-weiner index ranged
from 3.85- 2.45 and Simpson index of diversity ranged from 0.02-0.09. Luxuriant growth of lichens was recorded at the
altitude of mid elevation with degree of abundance, density, frequency and distribution of the lichen species compared to other
elevation. The present study provided baseline data of lichen diversity, which helps in understanding the relationship between
distribution of lichen species along different elevation bands and vegetation types.
Keywords— Biodiversity, Deciduous forest, Physciaceae, Corticolous, MM Hills
I. INTRODUCTION
Lichens, one of the most successful symbiotic associations of
a fungus, a green and/ or blue green alga, are known to
inhabit nearly all the terrestrial domains of the planet [1].
Lichens are the early land colonizers of terrestrial habitats
and perhaps the oldest living creatures on the Earth [2]. To
know the spatial patterns in biodiversity along environmental
gradients, is a central theme in ecology [3]. Elevation
gradients distributed across the globe are a powerful test
system for understanding biodiversity [4]. Elevation gradient
studies on diversity and distribution of lichens has been
undertaken across the world [5- 8]. In Karnataka, diversity
and distribution pattern of lichens was studied only in midelevation wet Evergreen forest of Southern Western Ghats
[9]. Southernmost part of Karnataka state lies
Chamarajanagar district. The forest regions in this district
run east from the Western Ghats to the river Cauvery and
forms a forest ecological corridor that connects the Eastern
Ghats and Western Ghats. This district is unique because it
has scrub, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen,
evergreen and shola forests. It is also known for its many
endemic species of plants including valuable medicinal ones.
Forests in this district have been conserved to protect habitats
like flora, fauna and cryptogamic forms like algae,
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
bryophytes, pteridophytes and lichens. Lichens can provide
valuable information about medicinal values and
environmental conditions around the forest area.
Enumeration of lichens in this region is not reported. Hence,
in the present study forest ranges with different elevation
gradients has been undertaken in Chamarajanagar district,
with particular reference to understand the species richness,
diversity, abundance, frequency, growth form and ecological
adaptation of lichens.
II. METHODOLOGY
Topography of the Study Area
Chamarajanagar is the southernmost district in the state
of Karnataka, India. Chamarajanagar district is divided into 3
taluks: Yelandur taluk, Kollegal taluk and Gundlupet taluk
(Figure 1). Major and popular mountain ranges from each
taluk has been selected for the study. Sampling sites were
distributed at various elevations in the district.
97
Vol. 6(1), Feb 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520
Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
Department of studies in Botany, Manasagangotri, University
of Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Identification of Lichen Species
Fig 1: Map of Chamarajanagar District showing location of Collection
sites (Source: Google map and Google earth)
Biligiriranga Hills also known as BRT Wildlife Sanctuary
(Yelandur Taluk) is one of the famous Biodiversity and Hill
station in the world and is rarest wildlife sanctuary. Male
Mahadeshwara Hills (Kollegal Taluk) popularly called as
MM Hills. It is a Holy place believed to have 777 wide hills,
77 important hills, 7 lively hills around. Shivanasamudra
Falls (Kollegal Taluk), the Kaveri with its numerous
branches falls down from 75 to 100 feet. All round falls one
can see a number of hillocks. Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills
(Gundlupet Taluk). It is an important Hill Station and Pilgrim
Centre (Table 1).
Table 1: Geographical Parameters of lichen collection sites in
Chamarajanagara district
Site
1
2
3
4
Locality
Biligiriranga Hills
Himavad
Gopalaswamy Hills
Malay
Mahadeshwara Hills
Shivanasamudra
Falls
Altitude
1500 m
1450 m
Latitude
11o59'43.74"N
o
11 43'26.72"N
Longitude
77o08'33.79"E
76o35'21.40"E
1300 m
12o01'30.87"N
77o33'54.87"E
700 m
12o17'37.03"N
77o10'05.50"E
Lichen Sampling
Field trips were executed to collect lichen growing on
different substrata were sampled by belt transact method.
Each transect measuring 50x10 m laid in different locations
of the study area. A total of 20 transects was laid in 4
different locations in the study area. All species of lichens
found in sampling area were harvested and species that are
tightly adhered to bark or rock were collected with the help
of chisel and hammer. Immediately after collection, samples
were cleaned and wrapped in a tissue paper and stored in
paper bags. Collected specimens were numbered and
preserved in lichen herbarium packet (17cmX10mm) with
details of the locality and deposited in the herbarium of the
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
The external morphology was studied using a
stereomicroscope. The anatomy of the thallus and apothecia
were studied under a compound microscope. The anatomical
structures were studied after taking the section of dry
material with the help of safety razor blade and the sections
were mounted in water or on cotton blue in lactophenol. The
colour of medulla, epithecium, hypothecium and ascus were
recorded. The shape and size of the asci, ascospores and
conidia were measured. The measurements of the thallus,
medulla, epithecium and hymenium were generally recorded
from the sections mounted on cotton blue. The thallus size
was measured in centimeter, lobe size and ascocarps in
millimeter and thallus medulla, epithecium, hymenium
thickness, asci and ascospores size in millimicron. Chemical
test of the specimens includes- colour spot tests (K, C, KC
and P test) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) test through
cold extraction method. Identification was carried out by
consulting suitable keys to identify lichens [10- 13].
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Lichen assemblages were quantitatively analyzed for density
and frequency. Relative frequency (RF) and relative density
(RD) were determined [14]. RF=100 x (frequency of species
I/sum of frequency values of all species), and RD=100 x
(density of species I/sum of density values of all species).
The importance value index (IVI) used here is the sum of the
relative frequency and relative density. Frequency
distribution, alpha diversity - Shannon-Weiner diversity
index (H') and Simpson diversity index (D') have been used
to assess species diversity [15]. Alpha diversity (H') was
estimated as the Shannon-Wiener index: H'=Ʃpi ln pi,
Where, pi=density (number of thalli) of the species, i/density
of all species. All statistical analyses were performed using
SPSS.
III. RESULTS
The present study deals with the systematic survey of lichens
in forest ranges along with elevational gradient in
Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka state which is
bordering with Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. A total of 97
lichens, belonging to 47 genera and 25 families were
recorded from 35 transects of 4 localities namely;
Biligiriranga
Hills,
Male
Mahadeshwara
Hills,
Shivanasamudra Falls and Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills
(Table 2).
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Vol. 6(1), Feb 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520
Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
Table 2: List of lichen flora enumerated from Chamarajanagar district
Collection sites
Values in Importance Value Index
(IVI)
Sl
No
Lichen samples
(* new record to Karnataka)
Family
Growth
form
Substratum
BRH
HGH
MMH
SSF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Anaptychia kaspica Gyelnik*
Arthonia medusula (Pers.) Nyl.
Arthonia radiata (Pers.) Ach*
Bacidia alutacea (Krempelh.) Zahlbr.
Bacidia incongruens (Stirton) Zahlbr
Bacidia rosella (Pers.) de Not.*
Bacidia sp.
Brownliella cinnabarina (Ach.) S.Y.
Kondr., Karnefelt, A. Thell, Elix, J.Kim,
A.S. Kondr. & J.S. Hur.*
Buellia indicaS.R. Singh & D.D.
Awasthi
Buellia hemisphericaS.R. Singh & D.D.
Awasthi
Buellia sp.
Bulbothrix goebelii (Zenker) Hale*
Bulbothrix setschwanensis (Zahlbr.)
Hale*
Caloplaca abuensisY. Joshi & Upreti*
Caloplaca atrosanguinea (G. Merr.)
Lamb*
Caloplaca flavorubescens (Huds.) J.R.
Laundon
Caloplaca bassiae (Ach.) Zahlbr *
Caloplaca poliotera (Nyl.) J. Steiner*
Caloplaca suboahuensis Y. Joshi &
Upreti*
Caloplaca subnigricans Magnusson*
Caloplaca subsoluta (Nyl.) Zahlbr*
Candelaria concolor (Dicks.) Stein
Canoparmelia texana (Tuck.) Elix &
Hale*
Catillaria cervinofusca (Nyl.) Zahlbr.*
Chrysothrix candelaris (L.) Laundon
Collema rugosum Kremp
Cresponea sp.
Cryptothecia culbersonae Patw. &
Makh.
Dimerella nepalensis G. Thor & Vezda*
Diorygma hieroglyphicum (Pers.)
Staiger & Kalb*
Diorygma pruinosum (Eschw.) Kalb,
Staiger & Elix*
Diploschistes cinereocaesius (Sw.) Vain
Diploschistes scruposus (Schreber)
Norman
Dirinaria applanate (Fee) Awas.
Dirinaria confluens (Fr.) Awas.
Dirinaria papillulifera (Nyl.) D. D.
Awasthi*
Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Ach.
Graphis homichlodes Redinger
Graphis script (L.) Ach.
Haemotaemma puniceum (Sm. Ex Ach.)
Massal.
Hemithecium nakanishiana (Patw. &
kulk.) Makhija & Dube
Heterodermia comosa (Eschw.)
Follmann & Redón
Heterodermia hypocaecia (Yasuda)
D.D. Awasthi
Heterodermia obscurata (Nyl.)
Heterodermia podocarpa (Bèl.)Awas.
Physciaceae
Arthoniaceae
Arthoniaceae
Bacidiaceae
Bacidiaceae
Bacidiaceae
Bacidiaceae
Teloschistaceae
Foliose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Rock
3.46
3.30
3.80
3.96
5.31
2.06
3.95
4.06
7.14
3.01
1.91
3.51
1.77
-
2.3
-
50%
75%
50%
25%
50%
25%
25%
50%
Physciaceae
Crustose
Rock
3.46
6.41
4.47
7.61
100%
Physciaceae
Crustose
Bark
-
5.89
-
-
25%
Physciaceae
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Crustose
Foliose
Foliose
Rock
Bark
Bark
-
2.97
1.66
4.11
3.44
2.41
-
25%
50%
50%
Teloschistaceae
Teloschistaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
1.78
2.43
5.63
5.67
-
25%
75%
Teloschistaceae
Crustose
Bark
1.01
3.49
-
-
50%
Teloschistaceae
Teloschistaceae
Teloschistaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Rock
Rock
2.12
-
-
1.91
3.58
-
25%
25%
25%
Teloschistaceae
Teloschistaceae
Candelariaceae
Parmeliaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Foliose
Foliose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
3.63
4.40
6.49
-
4.63
-
3.44
4.33
5.62
1.91
4.24
4.52
-
75%
50%
100%
25%
Catillariaceae
Chrysothricaceae
Collemataceae
Roccellaceae
Arthoniaceae
Crustose
Leprose
Foliose
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
Rock
Bark
Bark
4.07
2.78
7.48
5.20
6.91
1.98
5.40
2.70
3.53
6.57
-
25%
75%
50%
25%
75%
Gyalectaceae
Graphidaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
-
-
6.81
1.10
-
25%
25%
Graphidaceae
Crustose
Bark
1.95
-
-
-
25%
Thelotremataceae
Thelotremataceae
Crustose
Crustose
Rock
Rock
3.46
-
4.47
2.20
-
25%
50%
Physciaceae
Physciaceae
Physciaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Foliose
Bark
Bark
Bark
4.54
5.64
-
5.32
4.63
1.31
5.47
4.09
-
6.16
-
100%
75%
25%
Parmeliaceae
Graphidaceae
Graphidaceae
Haematommataceae
Foliose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
5.31
2.61
2.78
9.21
1.54
-
4.16
2.20
2.34
11.45
-
100%
25%
50%
50%
Graphidaceae
Crustose
Bark
1.26
1.66
-
-
50%
Physciaceae
Foliose
Bark
2.89
3.95
-
-
50%
Physciaceae
Foliose
Bark
-
5.20
3.51
-
50%
Physciaceae
Physciaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Rock
Bark
3.22
5.75
-
4.52
-
-
50%
25%
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
Frequency
distribution
99
Vol. 6(1), Feb 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520
Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
Heterodermia pseudospeciosa
(Kurok.)Culb.
Hyperphyscia granulate (Poelt) Moberg
Hyperphyscia minor (Fee.) Awas.*
Lecanora argentata (Ach.) Malme*
Lecanora carpinea L.
Lecanora chlarotera Nyl.
Lecidella enteroleucella (Nyl. In Nyl.
Scrombie Hertel)*
Lepraria lobificans Nyl.*
Leptogium wilsonii Zahlbr.
Leptogium chloromelum (Swartz ex
Ach.) Nyl.
Ocellularia sp.
Ochrolechia pallescens (L.) Massel.
Opegrapha inaequalis Fee*
Opegrapha varia Pers.
Parmeliella triptophylla (Ach.) Müll.
Arg
Parmelinella wallichiana (Taylor) Hale
Parmotrema austrosinensis (Zahlbr.)
hale
Parmotrema crinitum (Ach.) Choisy
Parmotrema grayanum (Hue) Hale
Parmotrema hababianum (Gyelnik)
Hale
Parmotrema indicum Hale
Parmotrema margaritata (Hue) Hale
Parmotrema mesotropum (Müll. Arg.)
Hale
Parmotrema praesorediosum (Nyl.)
Hale.
Parmotrema reticulatum (Taylor) M.
Choisy
Parmotrema saccatilobum (Taylor) Hale
Parmotrema subarnoldiides Abb.
Parmotrema subtinctorum (Zahlbr.)
Hale
Parmotrema tinctorum Nyl.
Pertusaria albescens (Huds.) Choisy &
Wern.
Pertusaria concinna Erichsen
Pertusaria leioplacella Nyl
Pertusaria leucosorodes Nyl.
Pertusariamelastomella Nyl.
Pertusaria pustulata (Ach.) Duby
Physcia aipolia (Ehrh. ex Humb.) Furnr.
Porina subinterestes (Nyl.) Müll. Arg
Pyxine petricola Nyl.
Ramalina baltica Lettau*
Ramalina subpusilla (Nyl.) Krog &
Swinscow*
Ramboldia griseococcinea (Nyl.) Kalb,
Lumbsch & Elix
Reminitzia santensis Tuck.
Rinodina oxydata (A. Massal.) A.
Massal.*
Roccella montagnei Bel. Emend. Awas.
Tephromela atra (Huds.) Hafellner
Teloschistes flavicans (Swartz) Norm.
Trypethelium ochroleucum (Eschw.)
Nyl. Var. Pallescens (Fèe) Müll. Arg.
Usnea baileyi (Stirt.) Zahlbr*
Usnea subflorida (Zahlbr.)Mot.
Usnea subfloridana Stirton
Usnea stigmatoides G. Awasthi
Verrucaria margacea (Wahlenb.)
Wahlenb.
Physciaceae
Foliose
Bark
2.12
-
-
-
25%
Physciaceae
Physciaceae
Lecanoraceae
Lecanoraceae
Lecanoraceae
Lecanoraceae
Foliose
Foliose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Rock
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Rock
2.20
8.15
-
4.98
5.89
10.06
4.75
2.12
3.15
2.34
4.09
6.69
5.19
8.59
10.91
-
75%
25%
50%
50%
100%
50%
Stereocaulaceae
Collemataceae
Collemataceae
Leprose
Foliose
Foliose
Soil & rock
Bark
Rock
2.20
4.2
5.77
-
1.02
1.17
-
-
50%
50%
25%
Thelotremataceae
Pertusariaceae
Roccellaceae
Roccellaceae
Pannariaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Squamulose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Rock
1.34
4.40
-
3.34
2.27
1.95
2.03
-
-
25%
50%
25%
25%
25%
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Bark
Bark
2.20
4.62
2.97
10.92
7.43
13.81
50%
100%
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Foliose
Bark
Bark
Bark
3.80
3.71
3.95
5.72
-
3.73
3.23
2.41
-
50%
75%
50%
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Foliose
Bark
Bark
Bark
3.63
-
5.20
-
1.81
2.12
-
25%
50%
25%
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Bark
4.24
2.97
2.34
-
75%
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Bark
2.45
-
3.30
-
50%
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Parmeliaceae
Foliose
Foliose
Foliose
Rock
Bark
Bark
4.32
4.40
2.12
3.20
2.97
3.23
3.08
-
-
75%
50%
50%
Parmeliaceae
Pertusariaceae
Foliose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
7.98
2.28
4.98
6.52
5.26
-
-
75%
50%
Pertusariaceae
Pertusariaceae
Pertusariaceae
Pertusariaceae
Pertusariaceae
Physciaceae
Trichotheliaceae
Physciaceae
Ramalinaceae
Ramalinaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Crustose
Foliose
Crustose
Foliose
Fruticose
Fruticose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
1.10
3.38
4.0
5.8
6.58
2.03
2.97
10.69
9.49
2.63
-
2.41
1.02
1.10
6.4
0.88
5.47
2.12
-
9.77
12.5
12.07
-
50%
25%
25%
25%
75%
100%
25%
100%
50%
25%
Ramboldiaceae
Crustose
Rock
-
-
1.17
-
25%
Graphidaceae
Physciaceae
Crustose
Crustose
Bark
Rock
-
-
1.98
2.05
-
25%
25%
Roccellaceae
Tephromelataceae
Teloschistaceae
Trypetheliaceae
Foliose
Crustose
Fruticose
Crustose
Bark
Rock
Bark
Bark
3.55
1.01
2.64
2.69
-
3.01
3.01
2.87
-
50%
50%
25%
50%
Usneaceae
Usneaceae
Usneaceae
Usneaceae
Verrucariaceae
Fruticose
Fruticose
Fruticose
Fruticose
Crustose
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Rock
2.80
2.72
3.22
-
1.20
1.77
-
-
6.93
25%
50%
25%
25%
25%
Collection sites: 1. HGH: Himadgopalaswamy hills, 2. BRH: Biligirirangana hills, 3. MMH: Malay mahadeshwara hills, 4. SSF: Shivanasamudra falls
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
100
Vol. 6(1), Feb 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520
Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
Among the 97 species recorded from this region, 28 species
are new reports from Karnataka state. Physciaceae was
dominated by 18 species under 8 genera, Parmeliaceae with
16 species under 4 genera, followed by Teloschistaceae with
10 species under 2 genera, Pertusariaceae with 7 species
under 2 genera and Graphidaceae with 6 species under 3
genera (Figure 2).
36
28
24 25
22
19
4
7 7
3
2 1
12 0
1 0
00 0
18
Biligirirangana
hills
16
Himad
gopalaswamy hills
No of species
14
12
Crustose
Foliose
Malay
mahadeshwara
hills
Fruticose
Shivanasamudra
falls
Leprose
Squamulose
10
8
Fig 4: Number of lichen growth forms in each studied locality in
Chamarajanagar district
6
4
Species
Usneaceae
Verrucariaceae
Trypetheliaceae
Trichotheliaceae
Thelotremataceae
Teloschistaceae
Tephromelataceae
Roccellaceae
Stereocaulaceae
Ramboldiaceae
Physciaceae
Ramalinaceae
Parmeliaceae
Pertusariaceae
Pannariaceae
Lecanoraceae
Gyalectaceae
Haemotommataceae
Graphidaceae
Collemataceae
Catillariaceae
Chrysothricaceae
Bacidiaceae
Candelariaceae
0
Arthoniaceae
2
Genus
Families
Fig 2: Dominant lichen families with respect to species richness in
Chamarajanagar district
Crustose type growth forms were abundant with 51%,
followed by foliose type growth forms with 38%, fruticose
type growth forms with 8% and squamulose type growth
forms with 1% (Figure 3). High diversity of lichens was
encountered in Male Mahadeshwara hills with 67 species, in
which crustose growth form was more with 36 species and
foliose with 28 species (Figure 4).
Fruticose
7%
Leprose
2%
Squamulo
se
1%
Foliose
37%
Crustose
53%
Fig 3: Percentage of different growth forms of lichens in
Chamarajanagar district
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
The different types of lichens recorded in this region were
from the mid elevation level (950-1100). The forest type
varies from evergreen forests to dry deciduous forests. The
next richly dense place with lichen colonization of 55 species
was Biligiriranga hills commonly called BR Hills. The forest
vegetation types here were; scrub, deciduous, riparian,
evergreen, sholas and grasslands. Among all the study sites,
BR hills had the high range mountain peaks and at high
altitude (1350-1450 m) only few lichens of Heterodermia
and Parmotrema were recorded less density and abundance.
Density of macrolichens was more compared to
microlichens. But in mid elevation (1100- 1350m)
abundance, density, frequency and distribution of lichens
was recorded luxuriantly. At low elevation (800-1000m)
density and abundance of crustose lichens was more. The
next highest elevated region (1500m) is Himadgopalaswamy
hills which is situated in the core area of the Bandipur
National Park and is frequented by wildlife. Dense fog
predominates and covers the hills round the year, with moist
deciduous forest type. In this forest range, density of
macrolichens was found to be more with 25 species
compared to the microlichens with 20 species at elevation of
1350-1450m). Shivanasamudra falls has a segmented water
fall of river Kaveri with Scrub forest. Not much lichen
colonization was found, density of lichens was very poor
with 14 species.
Among the microlichens from all the regions Buellia indica,
Cryptothecia culbersonae, Chrysothrix candelaris Lecanora
chlarotera, Graphis sp., Pertusaria pustulata and
macrolichens like Candelaria concolor, Dirinaria applanata,
Dirinaria confluens, Flavoparmelia caperata, Parmotrema
101
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Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
austrosinensis, Parmotrema grayanum, Parmotrema
praesorediosum, Parmotrema tinctorum, Physcia aipolia and
Pyxine petricola had high Important Value Index. ShannonWeiner index ranged from 3.85-2.45 and Simpson index of
diversity ranged from 0.02-0.09. Among the four studied
regions MM Hills harboured luxuriant growth of species with
highest Shannon- Simpson index of 3.98 and 0.02
respectively, and less distribution was observed in
Shivanasamudra falls with comparatively less ShannonSimpson index of 2.45 and 0.09 respectively (Table 3).
Table 3: Lichen richness in the study sites of Chamarajanagar district
Site
Locality
Shannonweiner index
Simpson
index of
diversity
Total
individual
Total
number of
species
1
Biligiriranga Hills
3.85
0.02
1231
57
3.49
0.03
897
43
3.98
0.02
1422
67
2.45
0.09
372
14
2
3
4
Himavad
Gopalaswamy
Hills
Malay
Mahadeshwara
Hills
Shivanasamudra
Falls
IV.
DISCUSSION
In the present study, it was observed that, the species
richness increased as elevation increases, up to a certain
point, creating a "diversity bulge" at middle elevations [16].
Elevation was more important than forest structure in
driving taxonomic and functional diversity. While the
species richness with increase elevation, decrease in
functional diversity revealed that community patterns shift
with elevation from random to clustered, reflecting the
selection for key shared traits. Higher elevations favoured
species with a complex growth form (which takes advantage
of high moisture) and asexual reproductive mode
(facilitating establishment under low temperature
conditions) [17].
As elevation increased, total area decreased; thus, there were
more species present at middle elevations than at low and
high elevations. There are generally three patterns of species
richness; a monotonic decline in species richness from low
to high elevation, a hump-shaped pattern with maximum at
mid-elevations and a constant from the lowlands to mid
elevations followed by a strong decline further up which
indicates that the maximum number of species had been
confined in the mid elevations [18]. The elevation was also
clearly effective on both the number and the composition of
© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved
the epiphytic lichen communities. Climatic parameters like;
temperature, rainfall, evaporation, are known to be closely
related to altitude. For this reason, the number of species
was more in the highest zone. The preferences of some
species were reported to be concentrated in 1300-1600m and
1800-1900m elevation zones [19].
Families such as Graphidaceae, Thelotremataceae are
generally observed to be found commonly in lowland forests
[20] which corroborate our study in that, the population of
crustose lichens was found to be more in low elevated areas,
especially in BR hills and MM hills. Similar observation
was reported from Chogoria, a wet forest type in Mt. Kenya
forest, where high abundance of crustose micro lichens at
lower elevation was observed and macro lichens were
abundant at higher altitudes [21]. Further, it was apparent
that, the numbers of foliose lichens are increasing with the
increase of altitude. In most temperate and boreal forests,
with light exposed trees, had richer lichen vegetation than
the trees of the interior forest [22]. Mid-elevation peaks had
a unimodal peak in diversity at intermediate elevations
(4300m) with 25% or more species than at the base and the
top of the mountain [23]. In a similar work, the effect of
elevation was studied on lichen diversity in seven spatially
separated sites of Zanskar valley, in Ladakh region of the
Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir and found a
significant linear relationship between total lichen diversity
and elevation, where a gradual decrease in lichen diversity
was observed with increase in elevation [24].
Elevational gradients of terricolous lichen species richness
in the Western Himalaya and the total species richness
showed a unimodal relationship with elevation, where the
highest species richness was observed at mid elevations
(3,200 m) [25], which is similar to our observation in the
present study. Unimodal relationship of lichen species
richness with elevation was also reported from Nepal [26],
where the maximum modelled total richness occurred in
3100–3400m, whereas the observed maximum richness (144
species) was at approximately 4000m. The lichen diversity
in the crowns of trees at mid elevation seems to be
somewhat similar to that at lower elevation although tree
species are different. At mid elevation, tree trunks get only
diffused light while the canopy gets more direct light. The
difference in distribution and diversity observed on barks
could be mainly due to light condition prevailing at mid
elevations [27]. The number of lichen species showed
decline towards the high elevation gradient, in which rock
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Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences
inhabiting species exhibit their dominance in higher altitude
while, soil inhibiting lichens dominated in the lower altitude
[28].
The majority of the parmelioid genera and species of
Taiwan are distributed primarily in submontane-montane
elevations (500–2,500 m) located in the meridional climatic
zone [29]. Basic groundwork must be comprehended in
order to meet the nation’s needs and also to strive towards
the biotechnology industry. Better lichen sample
representation of the lichen should be collected.
Furthermore, since the lichens can only be identified
through its fruiting bodies, the task of collecting sterile
lichens should be avoided [30].
V. CONCLUSION
The present study indicates the richness of lichen diversity
in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka state. It had
varied vegetation with different forest types namely; scrub,
dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen
and shola forests. The study revealed that, as the elevation
increased from lowland to mountain peak, the total area also
decreased, leading to highest lichen species richness in
terms of abundance, density, frequency and distribution at
mid elevation, where luxuriant growth of lichen species was
observed when compared to lowland and high elevation
mountain peaks. The enumeration lichens species gave a
baseline of lichen diversity of Chamarajanagar district of
Karnataka, which is a lichenologically unexplored region
and addition to Indian lichen inventory.
VI.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are thankful to University of Mysore for
awarding UGC NON-NET fellowship to the first author to
carry out the research work.
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