DIVERSITY OF LICHENS IN MUDIGERE TALUK

1. BIODIVERSITY OF LICHENS IN
COFFEE PLANTATION AREAS OF
MUDIGERE TALUK OF
CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT

2. FROM
Manavi Jeevala B C
Teacher Trainee
J S S Institute of Education
Sakleshpur

3. Lichens are the unique group of organisms made by symbiotic
association between photosynthetic partner algae and
heterotrophic fungus.
The word ‘Lichen’ was introduced into the Greek literature in about
300 BC by Theophrastus.
They have a wide variety of growth forms the main morphotypes
being crustose, foliose and the fruticose (Swinscow and Korg,
1988). On the basis of their substrate preference lichens are
classified as corticolous, saxicolous, terricolous, lichenicolous,
musicolous and foliicolous (Shashi upadhyay et al., 2015).
They are very sensitive to deterioration of air quality, hence they can
be used as atmospheric pollution indicator, health of the forest,
they are biological weathering agent helps in development of soil
and for forest nitrogen fixation(Brodo1961).
Economically they are utilized for enzyme, acid and pigments
extraction. (Vinayaka, 2016).
About 10 % of the terrestrial surface of the earth is dominated by
vegetation of lichens in diverse range of habitat

4. Aims and objectives
In view of this the present work was carried out as this work may
contribute to a better understanding of the biodiversity and
distribution of lichens species with respect to coffee plantation of
Mudigere taluk of Chikkamaglaluru with following objectives.
To survey the study area by quadrate method.
Collection of lichens growing on different substratum and their
identification.

5. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was carried out in the coffee plantation of Mudigere taluk.
Mudigere taluk occupies an unique position in the district because
of cultivation of coffee.
Coffee is widely cultivated because of altitude ranges 915m above
the sea level. The geographical region lies in Latitude13°08'02"
and Longitude 75°38'32".
The annual rainfall 3000 mm to 3500 mm, mean minimum and
maximum temperature is 17°C to 28°C, humidity 53° C.

6.  The survey of lichens was carried out in coffee plantation of
Mudigere taluk from 2016 July to March 2017 to make complete
record of different habitats of species and their occurrence.
 A total of 12 quadrate each measuring 10×10m were laid down in
at different sites. In each quadrate all substrate were thoroughly
searched and recorded the species.
 The pH of the substrate like soil, bark, rock was recorded the host
tree species were also identified.

7. Review of literature
A report on some macrolichen new to Karnataka, India”, was studied by
Vinayaka et al., (2010). They reported about 336 species of lichens, in
that they found 6 species of macrolichens from the central western ghats
region, Karnataka.
Monitoring of air pollution using lichen species in south Bangalore,
Karnataka” was reported by Abida Begum et al., (2010). They revealed
that, Pyxine meissneria growing inside the industrial area is most
tolerant and has accumulated higher level of all the heavy metal
Epiphytic lichens diversity in a reserve forest in southern Assam,
Northeast India”, was studied by Jayashree Routl et al., (2010). The
study report total 55 species distributed in 26 genera and 15 families.
The diversity and distribution of tropical macro lichens in Shettihalli
wildlife sanctuary, Western ghats, Southern India’’, was studied by
Vinayaka (2016). Author surveyed total area of 396 sq km that
supported for 111 species of lichen belonging to 41 genera from 22
families, corticolous lichens were found to be dominated in the area.

8. COLLECTION AND IDENTIFICATION
Lichen specimens were collected superficially by removing the substrate with the
help of knife and chisel in order to avoid damage of trees.
The collected specimens were dried and packaging brown handmade acid free
paper brought in polythene bag to laboratory. The field notes about lichen were
recorded.
Lichens are identified on the basis of their morphology, anatomy and chemistry.
The morphology were studied using lens or microscope. Anatomy were studied
by compound microscope. Chemistry by the colour test.
Colour test has been performed by chemical reagent by applying it on thallus and
medulla resulting change in colour.
Chemical reagents such as aqueous potassium hydroxide, Steiner's stable
Paraphenylenediamine, aqueous calcium hypochlorite and Iodide. Thin layer
chromatography was preformed for identification of lichen substance in the
solvent system. A following the techniques of Walker and James (1980).
pH test: Kricke method (1935) was followed to determine the pH of bark.

9. Result and dicussion
Total 48 species of lichens belonging to 25 genera and 18 families
were collected. Microlichens were found dominanted the coffee
plantation with 32 species followed by macrolichens with 16
species.
Based on the lichen substratum corticolous lichens represent 46
(98%) species followed by foliicolous and saxicolous with one
species each. The data revealed that Crustose lichens were
dominated the area with 25 (52%) species followed by 15 (32%)
foliose, leprose with 7 (14%) species and fruticose with one (2%)
species.

10. 66%
34%
Graph-1: Distribution of lichens in
coffee plantation areas of Mudigere
taluk
Microlichens
Macrolichens
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
crustose leprose foliose fruticose foliose crustose
Corticolous SaxicolousFoliicolousSpeciesrichness
Graph-2: Lichens recorded in different
substratum of coffee plantation areas of
Mudigere taluk

11. The members of the family Physciaceae, Sterocaulaceae Parmaliaceae,
Rhizocarpaceae, exhibited the maximum diversity in the area.
Parmotrema tinctorum shows more dominance and Lecanora argentata shows less
dominance.
Graphis scripta shows maximum frequency with 100% followed 8 species shows least
frequency.
Pyxine soridiata shows maximum abundance and and least abundance showed by
Lecanora argentata .
Similarly dominace of Microlichens were reported in montane and semi-evergreen
forest by Krishnamurthi, 2010. The region of Mudigere taluk dominated by Semi-
evergreen forest as these type of vegetation supports the growth of micro lichens
(Vinayaka, 2016).

12. conclusion
Total 48 species of lichens from 18 families were enumerated with
their host specification at 12 different sites using quadrate method.
A majority of lichen species were found to favour woody habitat
even though coffee plantation is a cultivated land and have less
number of tree species. This brings the importance of woody
microhabitats in promoting lichen species diversity.
The documentation of lichen species will provides basic information
of lichen biodiversity which will helpful for future biomonitoring
studies.

13. references
Vinayaka K. S. (2016), '' The diversity and distribution of Tropical Micro Lichen
in Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India ''. Plant Science Today.
3(2); 211-219
Awasthi D. D. ( 2009), “A Compendium of the Macrolichens from India,
Nepal and Srilanka”. Bishen Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, 1-
580.
Sequiera S and Muktesh Kumar (2008). Epiphyte host relationship of
macrolichensin the tropical wet evergreen forest of silent valleys
National park, Western ghats, India.tropical ecology, 49(2):211-224
Shashi Upadhyay, Sandhya Shukla, Yogesh Joshi and Athokpam Pinokiyo
(2015), ''The range extension of Follicolous lichens in India; A case
study from Nandhaur forest range, Lakhan Mandi, Haldwani,
Uttarkhand, India.'' G- Journal of Environmental Science and
Technology. 3(1)
Upreti and Chatterjee (1998), Lichen genus Lecanora subgenus Placodium
in India. Feddes report.