Abstract
An extensive research on deciphering lichen diversity in the high Nepalese Himalaya was undertaken in two subsequent years in Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) and Sagarmatha National Park (SNP). Altogether, 621 specimens were collected from these two regions, viz., 173 from MCA and 448 from SNP, which resulted in the occurrence of a total of 13 species of lichens from MCA (belonging to 4 families) and 69 species belonging to 15 different families from SNP. Among the lichen families reported from these two study sites, family Parmeliaceae (7 and 29 species from MCA and SNP, respectively) was the dominant one followed by Physciaceae (12 species from SNP) and Cladoniaceae (4 and 8 from MCA and SNP, respectively). Thus, this research work, to some extent, reveals the lichens enrichment in the study region, furnishing much new insights that can be used as a composite signal of environmental quality and future bio-monitoring studies. Key words: Bio-indicators, endemism, geographical gradients, speciation.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONFrequently called ‘Jhyau’ or ‘Tare’ in Nepal are classified as a cluster of lower life-form of fungi (dual organisms assumed as a single one) and are formed by an intricate and mutualistic combination of both fungal (mycobiont) and algal (phycobiont/cyanobiont) partners (Sharma, 1995; Shah, 2014)
Lichens, frequently called ‘Jhyau’ or ‘Tare’ in Nepal are classified as a cluster of lower life-form of fungi and are formed by an intricate and mutualistic combination of both fungal and algal partners (Sharma, 1995; Shah, 2014)
1,148 km2 lies in the Solukhumbu district and has an elevation gradient ranging from 2,845-8,848 m asl
Summary
Frequently called ‘Jhyau’ or ‘Tare’ in Nepal are classified as a cluster of lower life-form of fungi (dual organisms assumed as a single one) and are formed by an intricate and mutualistic combination of both fungal (mycobiont) and algal (phycobiont/cyanobiont) partners (Sharma, 1995; Shah, 2014). About 771 species belonging to 167 genera are known to Nepal as of of which more than 50 species are endemic (Baniya et al, 2010). 2,000 lichen species belonging to Nepal has been made (Bhuju et al, 2007), but, lack of adequate knowledge continues to keep them undocumented. The Nepalese Himalaya possess enormous pristine glories enriched with higher diversity and a very wide range of eco-climatic zones (Dobremez, 1976), most of its regions remained still unexplored. As it is well known that scientific discourse on ecological and biogeographical patterns and theories of species richness may prove an excellent system in bio-monitoring (Körner, 2002), this contemporary study was designed to abridge the existing gap in understanding and elucidating the diversity of lichens in Nepal.
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