Biogeography, Biodiversity Informatics, Lichenology, Biomonitoring

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF LICHEN TO LAND USE AND C-N LOAD

by Himanshu Rai

Symposium Proccedings:
Neha Karakoti, Himanshu Rai, Komal K. Ingle, Roshni Khare, D.K.Upreti (2011), PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF LICHEN TO LAND USE AND C-N LOAD, National Conference on Biotechnology & Biodiversity "Biological Resources Conservation, Management & Sustainable Uses" 13th & 14th March 2012 at Govt. M.S. Golwalkar College, Rewa (M.P.) India

Diversity of lichens along altitudinal and land use gradients in the Trans Himalayan cold desert of Ladak

by Himanshu Rai

Authors:
Jatinder Kumar, Roshni Khare, Himanshu Rai, D. K. Upreti, A. Tayade, S. Hota, O. P. Chaurasia, R. B. Srivastava
Citation:
Jatinder Kumar, Roshni Khare, Himanshu Rai, D. K. Upreti, A. Tayade, S. Hota, O. P. Chaurasia, R. B. Srivastava. Diversity of lichens along altitudinal and land use gradients in the Trans Himalayan cold desert of Ladakh. Nature and Science 2012;10(4):1-9. (ISSN: 1545-0740

Abstract:

Lichen communities growing on rocks and soil forms a major constituent of biodiversity in high... more Abstract:

Lichen communities growing on rocks and soil forms a major constituent of biodiversity in high altitude Himalayan habitats. An intensive survey in different localities in three major sites in and around Leh in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir state, India, revealed the occurrence of 38 species of lichens. The crustose growth form of lichens belonging to the family Physciaceae exhibited their dominance in the area. Apart from temperature and altitude, land use pattern also influenced the species composition up to a greater extant

Additions to the lichen flora of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu

by Siljo Joseph

Siljo Joseph, Sanjeeva Nayaka & V.S. Ramachandran. 2011. Additions to the lichen flora of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. ENVIS Newsletter 16(1): 6

Multivariate approach in Lichen biomonitoring studies: Validation of Lichens as an efficient bioindicator

by Himanshu Rai

Conference Proceedings:
Himanshu Rai,Rajan K. Gupta, D.K. Upreti,  Multivariate approach in Lichen biomonitoring studies: Validation of Lichens as an efficient bioindicator,1st World Congress for Man and Nature, Global Climate Change & Biodiversity Conservation, 11-13 Nov. 201, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India,pp.427.

The Most Ancient Terrestrial Lichen Winfrenatia reticulata : A New Find and New Interpretation

by SERGEY VIKULIN

Winfrenatia is the oldest known terrestrial lichen,[1] known from the lower Devonian Rhynie Chert.
It comprises comprises a thallus, made of layered, aseptate hyphae, with a number of depressions on its top surface. Each depression contains a net of hyphae holding a sheathed cyanobacterium. The fungus appears to be related to the Zygomycetes, and the photobiont resembles the coccoid Gloeocapsa and Chroococcidiopsis.[2] There may be two separate algae, making the lichen a symbiosis of three organisms.[1]
=

[1] Karatygin, I. V.; Snigirevskaya, N. S.; Vikulin, S. V. (2009). "The most ancient terrestrial lichen Winfrenatia reticulata: A new find and new interpretation". Paleontological Journal 43: 107. doi:10.1134/S0031030109010110.
[2]Taylor, T. N.; Hass, H.; Kerp, H. (1 July 1997). "A Cyanolichen from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert". American Journal of Botany 84 (7): 992. doi:10.2307/2446290. ISSN 00029122. edit
Karatygin, I. V.; Snigirevskaya, N. S.; Vikulin, S. V. (2009). "The most ancient terrestrial lichen Winfrenatia reticulata: A new find and new interpretation". Paleontological Journal 43: 107.
Taylor, T. N.; Hass, H.; Kerp, H. (1 July 1997). "A Cyanolichen from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert". American Journal of

(english)
I. V. Karatygin, N. S. Snigirevskaya, and S. V. Vikulin
Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian... more (english)
I. V. Karatygin, N. S. Snigirevskaya, and S. V. Vikulin
Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Professora Popova 2, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia

Silicified fossils from Rhynie cherts in Scotland are studied. A lichen belonging to the genus Winfrenatia is detected and studied. This oldest terrestrial lichen is dated to the Pragian (=Siegenian) of the Early Devonian. New characters of the lichen are described, and their new interpretation is given. The main component of the lichen thallus is a filamentous cyanobacterium (Nostocales). Structures which were interpreted as fungal hyphae are probably hollow sheaths of this cyanobacterium. Mycobiont hyphae develop at the base of the thallus and symbiose with a coccoid cyanobacterium. Thus, Winfrenatia reticulata is a three-parted organism, constituted of a mycobiont and filamentous and coccoid cyanobacteria.

Diversity and distribution of terricolous lichens as indicator of habitat heterogeneity and grazing induced trampling in a temperate-alpine shrub and meadow

by Himanshu Rai

Himanshu Rai, D. K. Upreti and Rajan K. Gupta

Lichens are among the most sensitive biomonitors of ecosystem health and human induced disturbances. Terricolous... more Lichens are among the most sensitive biomonitors of ecosystem health and human induced disturbances. Terricolous lichens of Chopta–Tungnath (Garhwal, western Himalaya, India) were analysed for their ability to indicate habitat variability and disturbances induced by livestock grazing. Terricolous lichens were sampled from 12 sites, distributed across the three macrohabitats between 2,700 and 4,001 m, using 50 × 10 cm narrow frequency grids having five 10 × 10 cm sampling units. The terricolous lichen community of the area constituted, 20 species belonging to 10 genera, five families and four growth forms. Altitude and relative humidity were the major habitat factors found influencing the terricolous lichen community of the landscape. Fruticose and compound soil lichen growth forms were found indicative of habitat disturbance largely caused by grazing induced trampling. Terricolous lichen diversity of the area was delimited by grazing pressure at mid-altitudes (3,000–3,400 m) and by decreasing soil cover at higher altitudes (>3,400 m).