Lichen Distribution in and around Badrinath with special reference to pollution monitoring

Abstract

Lichneogeographically, the Western Himalaya region stands third in position as compared to newlineEastern Himalayas and Western Ghats as both region show quite variation in their climatic newlineconditions but bears the rich diversity of lichens. In the Western Himalayan region, newlineUttarakhand state acquires the maximum lichen diversity according to the published literatures. newlineLichens shows symbiotic association between main fungus known as mycobiont,green algae newlineknown to be as phytobiont and blue green algae which is commonly known as cyanobacteria. newlineThey colonize almost on any substrate in a wide range of terrestrial and marine ecosystem newlineaccording to their capabilities. Nearly, 20,000 lichen species are known from world so far and newlinecurrent status of Indian lichen flora comprises of 2511 lichen species. newlineThe Badrinath valley is situated in alpine region of Western Himalayas; being a holy newlinepilgrimage of Hindus it experiences heavy tourist pressure during the months (June- newlineNovember) of the year. Being above the average Himalayan treeline altitude the region in and newlinearound Badrinath town shows absence of most of the vascular plants but cryptograms newlineparticularly lichens grow abundantly in the area. newlineIn the current study area the diversity, distribution pattern of lichen is correlated with newlineanthropogenic pressure (pollutant overload) was carried out. Different localities with in the newlinestudy area clearly reveals the variation in the diversity of lichens correlated with the level of newlinepollution. The differential accumulation of heavy metal in lichen species indicates that there is newlinecomparative higher deposition of metal in sampling sites along the land use gradient. newlineThe study area exhibit occurrence of 187 species under 62 genera and 29 families, with newlinedominance of members Parmeliaceae and Physciaceae. The soil inhabiting lichen genera newlineCladonia and Peltigera showed dominance among the different growth forms. The foliose newlinegrowth form was found dominant in the area. newlineThe present work reported addition of 45 species as the flora of Badrinath, 10 species we