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

Abstract

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 9 10 cm narrow frequency grids having five 10 9 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).

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

“…growth forms (Pinokiyo et al 2008, Rai et al 2012. Lichen groups from both Badrinath and Mana were sought through hierarchical cluster analysis (Ludwig and Reynolds 1988, Jongman et al 1995, Rai et al 2011, 2012b) using presence (1) absence (0) data matrices, employing Raup-Crick similarity measure (Rai et al 2011) and unweighted pair-group moving average (UPGMA) algorithm, on two criteria: lichen growth form diversity and their substratum of occurrence (i.e. on rock, on soil, on soil over rock, on twig and on cement plaster) (Scutari et al 2004, Rai et al 2012a.…”

“…on rock, on soil, on soil over rock, on twig and on cement plaster) (Scutari et al 2004, Rai et al 2012a. The PCA and cluster analysis were performed using multivar option in PAST 2.17c (Hammer et al 2001, Rai et al 2012b; all the other above mentioned statistical analyses were done using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 20.…”

“…Though foliose growth form dominated in Badrinath valley, other characteristic terricolous (soil inhabiting) growth forms of alpine Himalayan habitats, i.e. fruticose (Stereocaulon) and dimorphic (Cladonia) (Rosentreter et al 2014) were delimited to Badrinath town, due to greater soil cover which tends to decrease towards Mana (Rai et al 2012b). As shown by correlation analysis the comparative increase in proportion of crustose growth forms in Mana can be attributed to increasing altitude, low relative humidity and lower atmospheric temperature in mountainous habitats of Mana (Dietrich and Scheidegger 1996, 1997, Shrestha and St. Clair 2011.…”

“…As shown by correlation analysis the comparative increase in proportion of crustose growth forms in Mana can be attributed to increasing altitude, low relative humidity and lower atmospheric temperature in mountainous habitats of Mana (Dietrich and Scheidegger 1996, 1997, Shrestha and St. Clair 2011. The comparative clustering of the six sampling sites of the two localities in PCA reflects the constitutional difference in lichen growth forms in these sites, which are influenced by environmental as well as land scape (soil cover) variables (Lalley 2006, Rai et al 2012b. The hierarchical clustering of lichen species at both the locations in Badrinath valley concluded that lichen communities in the valley form natural clusters based on growth forms which are further differentiated in two sub-clusters according to substrate variability (Scutari et al 2004, Rai et al 2012b.…”

“…The comparative clustering of the six sampling sites of the two localities in PCA reflects the constitutional difference in lichen growth forms in these sites, which are influenced by environmental as well as land scape (soil cover) variables (Lalley 2006, Rai et al 2012b. The hierarchical clustering of lichen species at both the locations in Badrinath valley concluded that lichen communities in the valley form natural clusters based on growth forms which are further differentiated in two sub-clusters according to substrate variability (Scutari et al 2004, Rai et al 2012b. As the harsh climate of the valley is able to sustain small diversity of other ground flora, rock and soil over rock was the dominant substrate for lichens in the valley (Rai et al 2012b).…”