Influence of macro-scale environmental variables on diversity and distribution pattern of lichens in Badrinath valley, Western Himalaya

Abstract

Morphological growth forms confer ecological adaptability to lichens species and are indicators of habitat conditions and various climatic as well as zooanthropogenic pressures. Lichens samples from six sites in two locations of Badrinath valley were studied in order to assess the influence of macro-scale environmental variables (i.e. altitude, relative humidity and temperature) on diversity and distribution of lichens, using ordination (PCA and hierarchical clustering) and correlation analysis. The study recorded 106 lichen species in the valley. Parmeliaceae was a dominant family. Lichen species constitution in sites resulted in different groups, which were determined by the dominant growth forms and substrate preferences. Lichen growth form distribution was significantly correlated with studied macro-scale environment variables. On rock (saxicolous) substrate was the main substrate of lichen inhabitancy in the valley. The study concluded that macro-scale environmental variables play determining role in lichen community constitution of alpine habitats in Himalayas.