The lichen flora of tropical Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The first account of the lichen flora of the Cape York Peninsula bioregion is provided with 423 lichen taxa from 47 families and 127 genera recorded. The tropical savannas of Cape York Peninsula, which experience annual or biennial ground fires, are generally a harsh environment for lichen establishment and growth. The majority of eucalypts and Melaleuca viridiflora Sol. ex Gaertn. trees that dominate much of Cape York Peninsula vegetation regularly shed their bark and do not generally provide a suitable habitat for lichen establishment and persistence. However, even in these savanna habitats, some tree species provide suitable fire-safe substrates for lichens. The rainforest, riparian and coastal vegetation lichen flora is much more diverse, primarily because of the lack of fire but also because of more mesic conditions and persistent thin bark types. Most of the lichens (413 lichen species) survive on a number of bark types, while there are 51 species on rock substrates (10 exclusively on rocks). The diverse lichen flora is dominated by pantropical species, many of which are shared with New Guinea, Thailand and the Northern Territory. However, eleven lichen species are only known from Cape York Peninsula.