Check List Lists of Species Check List 11(6): 1807, 9 December 2015 Doi: ISSN 1809-127X © 2015 Check List and Authors
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11 6 1807 the journal of biodiversity data 9 December 2015 Check List LISTS OF SPECIES Check List 11(6): 1807, 9 December 2015 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.6.1807 ISSN 1809-127X © 2015 Check List and Authors Diversity and distribution of microlichens in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya, India Pushpi Singh1*, Krishna Pal Singh1 and Ajay Ballabh Bhatt2 1 Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, Allahabad – 211 002, India 2 Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand * Corresponging author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The paper reports the occurrence of 404 spe- been made (e.g., Pinokiyo et al. 2004; Dubey et al. 2007, cies of microlichens belonging to 105 genera and 39 fam- 2010; Pinokiyo et al. 2008; Singh and Pinokiyo 2008; ilies known so far, from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Singh and Swarnlatha 2011a, 2011b; Jagadeesh Ram and a part of the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot. Twelve Sinha 2011; Upreti et al. 2011; Singh and Singh 2012a, species, namely Arthopyrenia saxicola, Arthothelium sub- 2012b, 2012c, 2014; Singh et al. 2013; Joshi et al. 2014). bessale, Diorygma macgregorii, D. pachygraphum, Graphis Recently, a publication on foliicolous lichens of India nuda, G. oligospora, G. paraserpens, G. renschiana, Herpo- (Singh and Pinokiyo 2014) recorded 98 species from thallon japonicum, Megalospora atrorubricans, Porina ti- Arunachal Pradesh. However, the microlichens of upper jucana and Rhabdodiscus crassus, are new distributional northern regions of the state could not be fully explored records for India. Astrothelium meghalayense (Makhija because of rugged and inaccessible hilly terrain. In the & Patw.) Pushpi Singh & Kr. P. Singh and Astrothelium present study, the microlichens collected so far, have subnitidiusculum (Makhija & Patw.) Pushpi Singh & Kr. P. been investigated, identified and enumerated together Singh are proposed as new combinations and 66 species with published reports in the tabular form (Appendix, marked by an asterisk (*) are new distributional records Table A1) for future users. for the state. MATERIALS AND METHODS Key words: microlichens, diversity, Eastern Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh borders the states of Assam and new records Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with the countries of Myanmar in the east, Bhutan in INTRODUCTION the west, and Tibet (People’s Republic of China) in the The Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, one of the north. Several extensive collection expeditions were most important parts of the Himalaya biodiversity undertaken in different localities in the state (Figure hotspot (Mittermeier et al. 2005) covers an area of 1). Collected specimens were deposited in the herbaria 83,743 km2 (2.54 % total area of India) and is at altitudes of Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, ranging between 200 and 7,000 m above the mean sea Allahabad (BSA), and Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong level. Arunachal Pradesh lies between 26°28′ and 29°30′ N (ASSAM). Also studied were specimens loaned from latitude and 091°30′ and 097°30′ E longitude. It harbours the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow rich and unique diversity of lichen flora in northeastern (LWG). Morphological observations were made using India due to varied climate and topography. Various a stereomicroscope (Nikon SMZ 1500). Thin, hand-cut types of substrata, such as bark, twigs, leaves, soil, and sections, of thalli and ascomata were mounted in water, rocks, provide suitable conditions for the rich growth of lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB), 10% KOH and Lugol’s lichens from tropical to alpine regions. Lichenological iodine solution. All anatomical measurements were exploration in the state was first made by Rolla taken in water mounts and examined under a compound Seshagiri Rao and Gopinath Panigrahi of Botanical microscope (Nikon Eclipse 50i). Secondary metabolites Survey of India during 1956–1958. These collections were identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) were studied by Awasthi (1961) who reported 42 species following Orange et al. (2001) and White and James of macrolichens. Subsequently, based on new collections (1985). All the specimens were identified with the help in the state, some additional publications on foliicolous of authenticated specimens available in the various lichens, new species, and new records for India have herbaria and published literature. Current names of the Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 1 Volume 11 | Number 6 | Article 1807 Singh et al. | Diversity and distribution of microlichens in Indian Himalaya 1. Tawang 2. West Kameng 3. East Kameng 4. Papampare 5. Lower Subansiri 6. Upper Subansiri 7. West Siang 8. East Siang 9. Lower Dibang Valley 10. Dibang Valley 11. Lohit 12. Anjaw 13. Changlang 14. Tirap 15. Upper Siang 16. Namsai 17. Kurung Kumey 18. Longding Figure 1. Map of Arunachal Pradesh showing areas of exploration (stippled) of microlichens in various districts. species, habit and distribution in districts along with Total number of Species Total number of Genera 5 Verrucariaceae 2 selected voucher specimen numbers are also provided. 11 Trypetheliaceae 4 8 Teloschistaceae 1 14 RESULTS Strigulaceae 1 2 This study of microlichens of Arunachal Pradesh Stereocaulaceae 1 12 revealed the occurrence of 404 species (Appendix, Table Roccellaceae 7 2 Rhizocarpaceae 1 A1), belonging to 105 genera and 39 families (Figure 2), 12 Ramalinaceae 3 of which 12 species are newly recorded for the Indian 34 Pyrenulaceae 4 35 lichen flora and 66 species (marked with an asterisk) are Porinaceae 2 31 new distributional records for Arunachal Pradesh. Pilocarpaceae 10 16 Physicaceae 6 As far as the microlichen diversity is concerned, the 1 Phyllobatheliaceae 1 family Graphidaceae comprises 123 species and shows 2 Phlyctidaceae 1 12 maximum diversity, followed by Porinaceae (35 species), Pertusariaceae 1 1 Pyrenulaceae (34 species), Pilocarpaceae (31 species), Ophioparmaceae 1 2 Arthoniaceae (30 species), Lecanoraceae (22 species), Ochrolechiaceae 1 1 Mycoblastaceae 1 Physiaceae (16 species), Pertusariaceae (12 species), etc. 1 Monoblastiaceae 1 1 At the generic level, Graphis comprises 46 species and Megasporaceae 1 2 shows maximum species diversity, followed by Porina 34 Megalosporaceae 1 1 species and Lecanora 21 species. Megalariaceae 1 1 Malmideaceae 1 1 Letrouitiaceae 1 New distributional records 6 Lecideaceae 3 22 Lecanoraceae 2 1 Arthopyrenia saxicola A. Massal. Symmict. Lich.: 107. 1855. Hymeneliaceae 1 3 Haematommataceae 1 (Figure 3A–C) 123 Graphidaceae 29 Notes: This species is characterized by its saxicolous 1 Fuscidaceae 1 3 habit (on cemented rock), lichenized, superficial to Coenogoniaceae 1 1 endolithic, whitish or pale brownish or greyish thallus; Coccotremataceae 1 1 black solitary ascomata, branched and anastomosing Coccocarpiaceae 1 1 Chrysotrichaceae 1 pseudoparaphyses with simple periphysoids; 8-spored 1 Catillariaceae 1 asci; colorless, transversely 1-septate, 18–19 (–21) × 7–9 1 Brigantiaeaceae 1 μm ascospores with upper cell slightly broader than the Aspidotheliaceae 1 5 lower cell and lacking lichen substances. Sometimes this Arthopyreniaceae 2 30 species is confused with Porina linearis (Leight.) Zahlbr., Arthoniaceae 5 which has 3-septate ascospores and ± simple paraphyses Figure 2. Total number of genera and species of per microlichen family in (fide Orange 2013). Earlier, this species was erroneously Arunachal Pradesh. Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 2 Volume 11 | Number 6 | Article 1807 Singh et al. | Diversity and distribution of microlichens in Indian Himalaya Figure 3. A–C: Arthopyrenia saxicola, (A) habit, (B) transverse section of ascoma, (C) ascus with ascospores. D–E: Arthothelium subbessale, (D) habit, (E) ascus and ascospores. F–G: Diorygma macgregorii, (F) habit, (G) ascospore. H–I: D. pachygraphum, (H) habit, (I) ascospore. Scale bars: A, D, F, H = 1 mm; B=100 μm; C, E=20 μm; G=25 μm; I=50 μm. Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 3 Volume 11 | Number 6 | Article 1807 Singh et al. | Diversity and distribution of microlichens in Indian Himalaya identified as Anisomeridium calcicolum Upreti & Nayaka Symb. Bot. Upsal. 34 (1): 163. 2004. Graphis pachygrapha (Pinokiyo et al. 2008). It grows between 300 and 400 Nyl., Acta Soc. Sci. fenn. 7(2): 472. 1863. m altitude in shady exposed places in tropical forests. (Figure 3H–I) The species is distributed in Britain, China, Ireland and Notes: This species is characterized by its greenish Hong Kong. or whitish grey slightly fissured to rimose ecorticate Specimen examined: Arunachal Pradesh, Lower Debang thallus; flexuous, elongated, prominently raised Valley district, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Sally Lake, on constricted lirellae; closed or slightly opened whitish cemented stones, alt. 390–400 m, K.P. Singh & P. K. Dixit pruinose disc; convergent to divergent, uncarbonized 476 (BSA). exciple; hyaline, weakly I+ blue-violet hymenium mostly in lateral part; 1-spored asci with large Arthothelium subbessale (Nyl.) Makhija & Patw., densely muriform, 164–195 × 34–50 μm ascospores Tropical Bryology 10: 210. 1995. Arthonia subbessalis Nyl., and presence of norstictic and connorstictic acids. Sert. Lich. Trop. Labuan Singapore: 23. 1891 In chemistry and ascospores characters, it closely (Figure 3D–E) resembles Diorygma macgregorii (Vain.) Kalb, Staiger Notes: Arthothelium subbessale is characterized by & Elix, which has whitish pruinose exposed disc. The its endophloeodal to slightly epiphloeodal, irregular, species is distributed in China,