Abstract
This preliminary investigation describes the diversity and distribution of lichens from the different archaeological monuments of Sonitpur district, located in the Eastern Himalayan region of India, which is a part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. It is a land of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage and it is well reflected in the number of archaeological sites and monuments of ancient time at this region. Enumerations of 38 species of lichen belonging to 21 genera and 15 families have been reported from the archaeological monuments of Sonitpur district. 6 species are new records for this state. Members of Physciaceae showed higher dominance with 11 species followed by Teloschistaceae with 4 species and Lecanoraceae and Verrucariaceae each containing 3 species, respectively. Cryptothecia subnidulans is the most widespread species, reported from 7 study sites. Key words: Diversity, Eastern Himalayan, heritage, hot spot, species.
Highlights
Lichens are a stable self-supporting association of a mycobiont and a phycobiont in which the mycobiont is the inhabitant (Hawksworth, 1988)
Ruins of ancient archeaelogical sites provide an ideal place for invasion and colonisation of different groups of lichens
The different monuments of Sonitpur district harbour many lichen species and represented by 38 species belonging to 21 genera under 15 families (Table 2, Figure 1)
Summary
Lichens are a stable self-supporting association of a mycobiont and a phycobiont in which the mycobiont is the inhabitant (Hawksworth, 1988) They are known to occur on various substrates including barren rocks, mainly for their resistance to desiccation at extreme temperature and efficiency in accumulating nutrients (Martin, 1985; Chaffer, 1972; Seaward, 1979, 1988). As the earliest colonizers of terrestrial habitats on the earth, lichens are amongst the most successful forms of symbiosis (Galloway, 1994). These symbiotic thallophytic hardy plants can grow and thrive under extreme conditions and can withstand xeric conditions which other plants find unfavourable for their growth and survival. The colonization of lichens on building material and biodeterioration are usually
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