Journal on New Biological Reports ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online) JNBR 5(1) 19 – 34 (2016) Published by www.researchtrend.net Distribution patterns of epiphytic lichens in Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand Gaurav K. Mishra* and D.C. Saini Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow, India *Corresponding author: [email protected] | Received: 25 February 2016 | Accepted: 26 March 2016 | ABSTRACT Based on published literature, preserved lichen specimens at lichen herbarium in National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (LWG) and recent collections of lichens from different regions of Kumaun Himalaya is provided. The Pithoragarh district exhibits the occurrence of 246. The available information regarding barck inhabiting lichen will be useful for conducting future biomonitoring studies in the area. Key Words: Corticolous lichen diversity, Westen Himalaya, Uttarakhand. INTRODUCTION along with some other contributors (Kumar, 2008 ; Rawat, 2010). Pant (2002) enumerated 203 lichen The Indian Himalayan lichen flora has been species belonging to 64 genera and 32 families documented several times and included repeatedly from Askote-Sandev and Gori-Ganga, the two in different monographic and revisionary studies. botanical 'Hot Spot' of Pithoragarh district. Joshi et The lichen diversity in the Himalayas was first al., (2008 a,b) described lichen species from described by Babington (1852) who mentioned the Munsiyari area and have thrown some light on the occurrence of 44 species of which 4 species were impact of climate on lichen flora of Pindari. new from the lichens collected by Strachey & Earlier Upreti (1997; 2001) explored the lichens Winterbottom (1846-49) in Kumaun Himalayas. from Indian Himalayas. In higher altitudes area of Stirton (1879) reported 98 lichen taxa based on the the region Pindari and Milam Glacier region collection of G. Watt, A. Watt, King and Thomson explored of lichens carried out by Joshi (2010). In from Kumaun Himalayas and some states of east Kumaun Himalaya the major localities were Himalayan region. Kashyap, 1925; Chopra, 1934; exhaustively explored for lichen collections. Based Quarashi, 1928 were some other early explorer of on the altitudinal variations, Kumaun Himalaya the Himalayas for lichen collection. Awasthi lichens can be divided into subtropical, temperate (1975) provided the floristic account based on the and alpine region. The temperate and alpine regions lichens of Pindari Glacier catchment area from exhibit luxuriance and rich diversity of foliose Kapkote to Pindari glacier and enumerated 122 lichens. The temperate region shows diversity of species of lichens belonging to 38 genera and 18 different phorophytes which provides suitable families. Subsequently, Awasthi and Joshi, 1977, condition for a large number lichens genera to grow 1978; Awasthi and Singh, 1978; Negi and Gadgil, colonize epiphytically on them. The trees provide 1996, 1997; Upreti and Negi, 1998; Negi, 1999, varied niches for the lichens to grow as at the base 2000, 2001; Upreti and Divakar, 2003 provided which is laden with soil and mosses, upper trunk assorted account on lichens of Garhwal Himalayas with rough bark higher trunk with smooth bark 19 Mishra and saini JNBR 5(1) 19 – 34 (2016) __________________________________________________________________________________________ branches and twigs with varied pH and texture. The RESULTS AND DISCUSSION alpine region exhibit luxuriance of lichens grows on soil and rock. Both moist habitats along the Among the different habitats of lichens the rivers and dry exposed areas provided varied corticolous species (bark inhabiting) dominates climatic conditions for foliose and other lichen taxa with 429 species belonging to 90 genera and 36 on rock and soil. Earlier Upreti and Chatterjee families. The probable reason for luxuriant growth (1999a,b) studied the distribution of epiphytic of corticolous lichens in the region may be due to lichen in Kumaun Himalaya and reported 64 lichen the rich diversity of phorophytes at different species of lichen on Quercus trees. Similarly in the altitudinal gradients. A number of tree species such year 1975 Awasthi studied Pindari Glacier lichen as Syzygium cumini, Shorea rubosta, Quercus flora and recorded 122 species belonging to 38 leucotrichopora, Quercus floribunda, Quercus genera and 18 families. Furthermore in the Kumaun semecarpifolia, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus region floristic and revisionary studies of lichen roxburghii, Rhododendron arboreum, Cedrus from India carried out by various workers deodara, Alnus nepalensis and Betula utilis trees (Divarkar & Upreti 2005, Nayaka 2005, Joshi growing in moist, shady and open areas both in 2010, Kumar et al. 2011, Mishra et al. 2010, subtropical and temperate areas provide suitable Kholia et al. 2012, Mishra et al. 2011 & Mishra substrate to various lichen forms to colonize on 2012). But so far not a single foliose floristic them. The corticolous lichen taxa of the lichen account of Kumaun Himalayas is available. Thus family Parmeliaceae with 103 species under 21 the present study is carried out with an aim to list genera followed by 67 species of 14 genera of the epiphytic lichen from Kumaun Himalaya Physciaceae are the dominant lichens in the area. together with their distribution pattern in different Among the different growth form the foliose form districts. of corticolus lichens exhibit their dominance by 189 species followed by 187crustose, 32 fruticose, MATERIALS AND METHODS 12 squamulose and 5 leprose species. The different districts of the Kumaun exhibit a great variation in The dried samples were packed on hard card sheets altitude, topography and climate. The lichen inside a lichen herbarium packet (17cm X 13 cm) diversity of each district is provided separately as with details of the locality, date of collection, following (Table 1): substratum and are preserved at the lichen Almora district - Almora district shows herbarium of National Botanical Research Institute, occurrence of 80 species of corticolous lichens. The Lucknow (LWG). The study is based on the lichen lichen family Parmeliaceae dominates the district material collected from the region and the represented by 8 genera and 26 species followed by specimens collected earlier and preserved in the Physciaceae with 5 genera and 17 species of lichen herbarium of National Botanical Research lichens. The lichen genera Heterodermia, Institute, Lucknow (LWG), lichen herbarium of Lecanora, Parmotrema and Usnea are the Lucknow University, Lucknow (LWU) and dominant genera in the. The lichen species personal herbarium of Dr. D.D. Awasthi (AWAS). Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale, The specimens were identified by studying Phaeophyscia hispidula (Ach.) Moberg and Usnea their morphology, anatomy and chemistry. The eumitrioides Motyka are widely distributed and morphology of the taxa was studied under stereo- recorded from most of the localities of the district. zoom binocular microscope. The details of thallus Bageshwar district- Among the different districts anatomy and fruiting bodies were studied by of the Kumaun the Bageshwar district exhibit compound microscope. The colour test were maximum diversity of corticolous lichens carried out on cortex and medulla with usual represented by 235 species. Parmeliaceae with 18 chemical regents such as aqueous potassium genera and 58 species and Physciaceae with 6 hydroxide (K), Steiner`s stable paraphenylene genera and 29 species are the dominant families in diamine (PD) and aqueous calcium hypochlorite the study area. The lichen genera Lecanora with 16 (C).Thin layer chromatography was performed for species and Cladonia with 11 species dominate the identification of the lichen substances in solvent district. The rich diversity of phorophytes and system A (Toluene 180: 1-4 Dioxane 60: Acetic different altitudinal gradients support luxuriant acid 8) following the techniques of Walker & growth of corticolous lichens. James (1980) and Orange et al., (2001). For Champawat district- The Champawat district is authentic identification of different lichen taxa represented by the occurrence of 129 species of literature of Awasthi (1988, 1991, 2000 and 2007), corticolous lichens. The member of lichen family Divakar and Upreti (2005), Nayaka (2004) and Parmeliaceae dominates with 25 species followed Joshi (2008) were consulted for the identification by 8 Physciaceae and 5 Lecanoraceae species of specimens up to species level. respectively. The lichen genera Heterodermia, Caloplaca, Parmotrema and Lecanora are the dominant genera of the district. 20 Mishra and saini JNBR 5(1) 19 – 34 (2016) __________________________________________________________________________________________ GARHWAL HIMALAYA KUMAUN KUMAUN INDIA UTTARAKHAND HIMALAYA KUMAUN HIMALAYA Fig 1. Different districts of Kumaun Himalaya surveyed for lichen collection. 21 Mishra and saini JNBR 5(1) 19 – 34 (2016) __________________________________________________________________________________________ Table 1. Distribution of corticolous lichens in different districts of Kumaun Himalaya and their growth forms. orms Taxa Family F S.N. roth roth G Almora Bageshwar Chmapawat Nainital Pithoragarh USN 1 Acarospora hassei here Acarosporaceae Cr - - - - + - 2 Allocetraria oakesiana (Tuck) A. Ahti Parmeliaceae Fo - - - - + - 3 Amandinea montana (H. Magn.) Marbach Physciaceae Cr - - - + + - Anisomeridium biforme (Borrer) R.C. Harris Cr - - - - + - 4 in Vì zda Monoblastiaceae Anisomeridium nidulans (Müll. Arg.) R. C. Cr - - - -