Diversity and species distribution of lichens in Gwangneung Forest

Abstract

Gwangneung Forest is a forest area that has been in existence for more than 550 years with a long history of natural and artificial forests in harmony. Lichens are not only a single organism but also a group of basic organisms formed from a stable symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria. They are closely associated with forests and have formed an axis through Gwangneung Forest. From 2016 to 2021, a survey was conducted to investigate the lichen flora distribution by species, focusing on the viewing area within the Korea National Arboretum and the undisclosed research area centered in the Suribong Peak area. As a result of collecting and identifying 246 specimens, 68 species of lichens were identified in 11 orders, 22 families, and 39 genera. The tree with the largest number of lichens was Koelreuteria paniculata , followed by Sophora japonica , Ginkgo biloba , and Malus sieboldii . In trees belonging to Aceraceae , crustose lichens rather than foliose lichens were mainly found. Through this survey, three unreported species were discovered: Lepraria cupressicola , Leprocaulon nicholsiae , and Graphis pinicola . Lepraria cupressicola and Leprocaulon nicholsiae were distributed throughout the arboretum viewing area and Graphis pinicola was identified only in one viewing area.