Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2022 | 14(1): 20400–20405
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7117.14.1.20400-20405
#7117 | Received 25
January 2021 | Final received 12 March 2021 | Finally accepted 13 December 2021
Macrolichens of Mathikettan Shola National Park, Western Ghats: a
preliminary investigation with some new records
Aswathi Anilkumar
1 , Stephen Sequeira 2, Arun Christy 3 & S.M. Arsha
4
1–4 Lichenology lab, Post-Graduate
and Research Department of Botany, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala
682011, India.
1 aswathianilkumar210@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 step@rediffmail.com, 3 arunchristysebastian03@gmail.com,
4 arsha.smohan@gmail.com
Editor: Anonymity
requested. Date of publication:
26 January 2022 (online & print)
Citation: Anilkumar,
A., S. Sequeira, A. Christy & S.M. Arsha (2022). Macrolichens of Mathikettan
Shola National Park, Western Ghats: a preliminary investigation with some new
records. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 14(1): 20400–20405. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7117.14.1.20400-20405
Copyright: © Anilkumar
et al. 2022. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: UGC, New Delhi; KSCSTE, Kerala.
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Author details: Aswathi Anilkumar
is UGC- SRF at department of botany, Maharajas College, Kerala, India with
research interest in taxonomy, ecology and molecular categorization of Lichens.
Stephen Sequeira is currently working as Assistant
Professor in Botany at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala, India. His area
of interest is taxonomy, ecology, molecular, pollution monitoring and climate
change studies of lichens. Arun Christy currently
working as project fellow at department of botany Maharajas College Ernakulam.
He deals with taxonomic studies of lichens in Kerala and his area of interest
are Lichenology, Ecology and Angiosperm taxonomy. Arsha
SM is currently research scholar in department of Botany, Maharajas College.
Her area of interest is molecular characterization of Parmelioid
lichens.
Author contributions: AAK—conceptualization, performed
field collection, formal analysis, writing original draft; SS—supervision,
review, provided proper guidelines for the research; AC—review and editing
draft; ASM—editing draft.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to
University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi and Kerala State Council for
Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Thiruvananthapuram, Government of
Kerala for the financial support for the work. The authors are grateful the
Principal, Maharaja’s College Ernakulam for providing the necessary facilities.
Thankful to officials of Kerala Forest Department for the permission to access
the area.
Abstract: An extensive survey of lichens
was conducted in different parts of Mathikettan Shola
National Park, and analysed 55 macrolichen
species under six families. Two species were found to be new to the Indian
peninsula, and five species were new to the lichen flora of Kerala.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Corticolous, Foliose, Fruiticose,
lichens, Kerala, Idukki, new reports, Saxicolous.
INTRODUCTION
Mathikettan Shola National Park (MSNP, 9.950–10.010 N and
76.23–77.26 E), located in the high ranges of southern Western Ghats with an
area of 1,282 ha falls under Poopara village of Ubumbanchola taluk in Idukki district, Kerala (Image 1).
Altitude of the area ranges from 1,200–1,984 m in the highest peak—Kattamala—of the national park. The area represents a
unique montane evergreen forest ecosystem with several endemic species—63
species of trees, 163 herbs and shrubs, and 15 species of climbers (Management
Plan MSNP 2009).
The
climatic conditions and the presence of forests intermingled with grasslands
make MSNP suitable for the luxurious growth of lichens. However, to date no
substantial work on lichens has reported on this unique area. Fragmentary lichen collections from different
parts of Kerala (Kumar et al. 1999, 2000; Biju et al. 2010, 2012, 2014; Sonia
et al. 2018, 2020) have not covered several interesting areas, including
Wildlife Sanctuaries, national parks, mangrove forests, and cultivated areas (Sequiera 2003, 2005, 2008; Kumar et al. 2008). This report
presents preliminary observations of macrolichens
from a hitherto unrecorded area of MSNP, Idukki, Kerala.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Data
collection: An extensive survey of lichens was conducted in different parts of
MSNP during the period of June 2019 to February 2020. Collection was made from Choondal (1,200–1,600 m), Karadippara
(1,200 m), and Shivanpara (1,400 m) area of the
national park. Substrate of collection, altitude and names of trees along with
the lichen population was noted from each locality. The collected specimens
were numbered, air dried and herbariums were prepared as per the standard
method.
Identification: Collected
specimens were identified based on morphological observation and comparison
with published keys and descriptions (Awasthi 2007; Mishra & Upreti 2017). Species confirmation was done using various
chemical colour tests such as potassium hydroxide
(K), paraphenylene diamine (P), calcium hypochlorite
(C), potassium iodide and thin layer chromatography (TLC) using a solvent containing
toluene, dioxane, and acetic acid (TDA).
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
More than
500 specimens were collected from the study area in MSNP. Critical analysis of
the specimens revealed 55 macrolichen species under
17 genera belonging to six families; eight species were fruticose (13%) and 47
(87%) were foliose in nature. There was a maximum diversity of corticolous lichens represented by 47 species (87%), with
the rest being saxicolous in nature (13%). Numerical representation of the taxa
recorded is presented in Table 1. Family Parmeliaceae
was predominant with 25 species from seven genera, followed by Physciaceae with 11 species from two genera, Peltigeraceae with nine species from three genera, Collemataceae with four species from two genera, Coccocarpiaceae with three species from one genus, and Ramalinaceae with one species. Among 17 genera, Parmotrema and Heterodermia
were found to be dominant in the study area with nine species each followed by Usnea (6 species), Sticta,
Psuedocyphellaria and Hypotrachyna
with four species each, Coccocarpia, Ramalina and Leptogium
with two species each, Phaeophyscia, Xanthoparmelia and Canoparmelia
with two species each, Lobaria, Collema, Physcia, Myelochroa, Parmelina with
one species each. Among the 55 species reported from the national park, two
species were new to peninsular India and five species were found to be new to
the lichen flora of Kerala.
New reports
of lichens to Peninsular India
1. Leptogium furfuraceum (Harm.)
Sierk.
Thallus corticolous, weekly adnate, dark brown to slate gray, lobes
flabellate to orbicular, 3–5 cm wide, margins entire to lacerate; upper surface
distinctly wrinkled, isidiate; isidia globular to
clavate, laminal to marginal; lower surface with white tomentose
on lower surface; apothecia absent (Image 2).
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.009N to 77.239E, 1,458 m, on bark, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2442).
The species
has an earlier record from Uttarakhand state (Awasthi 2007). The present collection
shows its extended distribution in peninsular India.
2. Parmelina usambarensis (Steiner
& Zahlbr.) Hale
Thallus
saxicolous, loosely attached on rock, whitish mineral grey, 3–5 cm across;
lobes sublinear to rotund, 5–6 mm wide, divaricately branched, ciliate,
sparsely to densely isidiate; isidia cylindrical,
simple to branched; medulla white; lower
surface shiny black, rhizines black, simple, 1 mm
long; apothecia not present (Image 3).
Cortex K+
yellow; medulla K+ red, C-, KC-,
P+ red.
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.009N to 77.245E, 1,603 m, on rock, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2436).
This
species has been reported earlier from eastern Himalaya and from Manipur state.
The present collection from the study area shows its distribution in peninsular
India.
New reports
of lichen from Kerala
1. Xanthoparmelia congensis
(Stein) Hale
Thallus
saxicolous, very tightly adnate to the rock, foliose but centrally subcrustose, 1.5–4 cm across; lobes sub dichotomously
branched, sublinear, 0.05–0.4mm wide; upper side greenish yellow, shiny at
apices, dull at the center, aeriolate, isidiate; isidia pale, simple, globose often bursting open
at top not forming soredia; medulla white; apothecia
not seen, lower side black, shiny, rhizinate;
apothecia not seen (Image 4).
Medulla K+
yellow, C-, KC-, P+ dark orange; stictic, constictic, and norstictic acid present.
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.009N to 77.242E,
1,603 m, on rock, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2498).
Found
distributed in the state of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and
Uttarakhand. The present collection confirms its extended distribution to the
state of Kerala.
2. Xanthoparmelia psuedocongensis
Hale
Thallus saxicolous,
subcrustose, very tightly adnate to the substratum,
7c m across; lobes sublinear to rotund, 0.7–0.9 mm wide, black rimmed; upper
surface yellowish-green, shiny in periphery, dull in center, isidiate; isidia cylindrical, simple, black tipped; medulla
white; lower surface black, shiny, rhizinate, rhizines black. Apothecia absent (Image 5).
Cortex K-;
Medulla K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P+
orange; Stictic, Constictic
and norstictic acid present.
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.006N to 77.243E 1,582 m, on rock, July, Aswathi Anilkumar & Stephen Sequeira (2497).
Recorded
from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
3. Parmotrema chinense (Osbeck) Hale & Ahti
Corticolous, less adnate, 3–5 cm across; lobes irregular,
1–4 mm wide; upper surface white grey to dark grey, margins entire, ciliate, emaculate, smooth, sorediate; Soredia marginal to submarginal;
medulla white; lower surface black in centre, shiny, rhizinate, brown towards margin, erhizinate;
apothecia not seen (Image 6).
Cortex K+
yellow, medulla K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P+
pale orange; atranorin, stictic, and constictic acids present.
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.008N to 77.245E, 1,606 m, on bark, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2427).
Awasthi
(2007) reported the occurrence of this species from Nilgiri
and Palni hills of Tamil Nadu. The present collection
confirms its extended distribution to the state of Kerala.
4. Sticta duplolimbata (Hue)
Vain.
Corticolous thallus, photobiont cyanobacterium, holdfast
seen, foliose, 4–5 cm wide; upper surface yellowish-brown, glossy, ciliate,
cilia black, isidiate; Isidia black, marginal;
medulla off white; lower surface brown, tomentose, cyphellae yellow; apothecia not known (Image 7).
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.007N to 77.246E, 1,591 m, on rock, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2480).
Recently
collected from Nilgris hills of Tamil Nadu (Pandit
& Sharma 2012). The present collection confirms its extended distribution
to the state of Kerala.
5. Lobaria japonica (Zahlbr).
Asahina
Thallus corticolous, loosely adnate, 5–9 cm across, yellow brown,
dull, photobiont green algae; Upper surface smooth without recticulate
ridges, minor wrinkles; no isidia and soredia; lower
surface pale brown, tomentose, rhizinate,
rhizines black; apothecia immature (Image 8).
Cortex K-;
medulla K-, C-, KC-, P-. No lichen
materials
Specimen examined: India, Kerala, Idukki, Mathikettan
Shola National Park, 10.006N to 77.243E, 1,582 m, on rock, July, Aswathi Anilkumar (2380).
Collected
from Nilgris hills of Tamil Nadu and Nagaland.
CONCLUSION
It is
estimated that India supports about 2,532 lichen species under 324 genera and
78 families, including 541 endemic species (Singh & Sinha 2010). Only about
691 species are so far reported from Kerala since only fragmentary studies have
been done on lichen taxonomy from the state. This study mainly focused on
survey of macro lichen species from Mathikettan Shola
National Park, and the results revealed that further extensive exploratory
studies may end up with new additions to lichen biota of the state, and also to
the country.
Table 1. Enumeration of macro
lichens from Mathikettan Shola National Park.
|
|
Species |
Family |
Thallus type and substratum |
|
1 |
Coccocarpia palmicola (Spreng.) Arvidss. & D.J. Galloway |
Coccocarpiaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
2 |
Coccocarpia pellita (Ach.) Mull. Arg. Em. R. Sant. |
Coccocarpiaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
3 |
Coccocarpia sp. |
Coccocarpiaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
4 |
Collema auriforme (With.) Coppins & J.R.
Laundon |
Collemataceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
5 |
Leptogium cyanescens (Rabenh.) Körb. |
Collemataceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
6 |
Leptogium marginella (Sw.) Gray |
Collemataceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
7 |
Lobaria japonica (Zahlbr). Asahina |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
8 |
Psuedocyphellaria argyraceae (Bory ex Delise) Vain. |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
9 |
Psuedocyphellaria aurata (Sm. Ex Ach.) Vain |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
10 |
Psuedocyphellaria ceylonensis H. Magn. |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
11 |
Psuedocyphellaria crocata (L.) Vain |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
12 |
Psuedocyphellaria intricata (Delise) Vain |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
13 |
Sticta duplolimbata (Hue) Vain. |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
14 |
Sticta limbata (Sm.) Ach |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
15 |
Sticta orbicularis (R. Br.) Hue |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
16 |
Sticta weigelii (Ach.) Vain. |
Peltigeraceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
17 |
Canoparmelia pustulescence (Kurok.)
Elix |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
18 |
Canoparmelia texana (Tuck.) Elix & Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
19 |
Hypotrachyna cirrhata (Fr.) Divakar, A. Crespo, Sipman,
Elix & Lumbsch |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
20 |
Hypotrachyna dactylifera (Vain.) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
21 |
Hypotrachyna infirma (Kurok.) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
22 |
Hypotrachyna nepalense (Taylor) Divakar, A. Crespo, Sipman,
Elix & Lumbsch |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
23 |
Myelochroa xantholepis (Mont. & Bosch) Elix
& Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
24 |
Parmelina usambarensis (Steiner & Zahlbr.) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
25 |
Parmotrema chinense (Osbeck) Hale & Ahti |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
26 |
Parmotrema indicum Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
27 |
Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
28 |
Parmotrema reticulatum (Taylor) Choisy |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
29 |
Parmotrema crinitum (Ach.) Choisy |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
30 |
Parmotrema praesorediosum (Nyl.)
Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
31 |
Parmotrema hababianum (Gyeln.) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
32 |
Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
33 |
Parmotrema stuppeum (Taylor) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
34 |
Usnea baileyi (Stirt.) Zahlbr. |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
35 |
Usnea rigidula (Stirt.) G. Awasthi |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
36 |
Usnea thomsonii Stirt. |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
37 |
Usnea pectinate Taylor |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
38 |
Usnea picta (J. Steiner) Mot. |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
39 |
Usnea subflorida (Zahlbr.) Mot. |
Parmeliaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
40 |
Xanthoparmelia congensis (B. Stein) Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
41 |
Xanthoparmelia psuedocongensis Hale |
Parmeliaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
42 |
Heterodermia boryi (Fée) Kr.P. Singh
& S.R. Singh |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
43 |
Heterodermia comosa (Eschw.) Follman
& Redon |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
44 |
Heterodermia hypocaesia (Yasuda) D.D. Awasthi |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
45 |
Heterodermia incana (Stirton) D. D. Awasthi |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
46 |
Heterodermia isidiophora (Vain.) D.D. Awasthi |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
47 |
Heterodermia japonica (Sato) Swinsc. & Krog |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
48 |
Heterodermia obscurata (Nyl.) Trevis. |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
49 |
Heterodermia speciosa (Wulf.) Trevis. |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
50 |
Heterodermia togashii (Kurok.) D.D. Awasthi |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
51 |
Pheophyscia hispidula (Ach.) Moberg |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
52 |
Pheophyscia orbicularis (Neck.) Moberg |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Corticolous |
|
53 |
Physcia tribacoides Nyl. |
Physciaceae |
Foliose Saxicolous |
|
54 |
Ramalina conduplicans Vain. |
Ramalinaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
|
55 |
Ramalina pacifica Asahina |
Ramalinaceae |
Fruticose Corticolous |
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