Vertika Shukla

Recent Advances in Lichenology

This chapter focuses on the application of spaceborne remote sensing and GIS for biodiversity conservation in the context of the state-of-the-art technology which has enhanced the classical approach. It reviews currently available instruments, i.e. space-borne or satellite sensors providing data which can be used without analysis or interpretation for studying individual organisms, species assemblages or ecological communities on ground. Subsequently, the image processing and GIS techniques developed to derive information from the captured satellite data are reviewed, and finally, this chapter concludes by reviewing the use of remote sensing and GIS techniques for mapping, monitoring and modelling lichens and their habitats.

Changing lichen diversity in and around urban settlements of Garhwal Himalayas due to increasing anthropogenic activities

Decrease in lichen diversity is an important biometric tool to assess the prevailing environmental condition in an area. An attempt has been made to explore the utility of lichen diversity in the monitoring of air pollution in the city of Pauri and Srinagar, Garhwal Himalayas, Uttaranchal. Eighty five lichen species were recorded from Pauri and Srinagar (Garhwal) in June 2005. It was observed that polluted sites had very low lichen diversity, mostly dominated by members of lichen family Physciaceae. Kiyonkaleshwar area is the site with maximum lichen diversity (46 lichen taxa) located in a more or less pollution-free area of Pauri city. Two-dimensional principal components analysis plot revealed significant positive contribution of natural (unaltered) sites towards lichen biodiversity, thus affirming the utility of lichen diversity in biomonitoring studies in a wide geographical area.

Ecological implication of variation in the secondary metabolites in Parmelioid lichens with respect to altitude.

Lichens are known to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites having multifunctional activity in response to external environmental condition. Two common lichen extrolites, atranorin and salazinic acid, are known to afford antioxidant as well as photoprotectant nature depending on the abiotic/biotic stress. The present investigation aims to study the influence of altitudinal gradient on the quantitative profile of atranorin and salazinic acid in three lichen species, Bulbothrix setschwanensis (Zahlbr.) Hale, Everniastrum cirrhatum (Fr.) Hale and Parmotrema reticulatum (Taylor) Choisy, Parmeliaceae using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. Samples were collected from high-altitude area, usually considered as non-polluted sites of Garhwal Himalaya. Characterization and quantification of the lichen substances in samples were carried out comparing with the standards of atranorin and salazinic acid. Results indicated significant variation in the chemical content with the rising altitude. All the three lichen species showed higher quantities of chemical substances with the altitudinal rise, while among the three lichen species, E. cirrhatum showed the highest quantity of total lichen compounds. The higher abundance and frequency of E. cirrhatum with increasing altitude as compared to B. setschwanensis and P. reticulatum may be attributed due to the presence of higher quantity of photoprotecting/antioxidant chemicals especially salazinic acid. Thus, the present study shows the prominent role of secondary metabolite in wider ecological distribution of Parmelioid lichens at higher altitudes.

Lichen Community Composition in Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh, Tool for Long-Term Climate Change Monitoring

The lichen diversity in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India was studied in order to access the long-term effect of climate change in alpine regions of the area. The present study provides an enumeration of 122 species of lichens belonging to 47 genera and 24 families at five major sites of Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Out of 5 sites, Mangalam Gompa (HSP 3), PTSO Lake (HSP 2) and Nagula (HSP 1) are the three highest summit point (HSPs), which have been designated as permanent long-term monitoring sites under the Indian Space Research Organization programme for monitoring the effect of climate change on Himalayan alpine ecosystem while two adjoining additional localities Tawang and SeLa pass were also surveyed. Among 5 localities, the Tawang area has the maximum diversity of lichens represented by 48 species followed by HSP 3 with 41 species and 28 species each in both HSP 2 and HSP 1. The SeLa Pass is represented by occurrence of 26 species only. Lichen family Parmeliaceae is the dominant in the study area, belonging to 51 species followed by Cladoniaceae and Lecanoraceae with 16 and 7 species, respectively. Any alteration in the substratum as well as growth forms of baseline lichen species in near future may help us to predict the habitat shift/composition of species in the area. The biomonitoring procedure could be further standardized and used as part of an environmental monitoring programme in near future.