Epiphytic microlichens as indicators of phytosociological differentiation between Caatinga and Brejos de Altitude

Abstract

The present study tested the hypothesis that species richness and composition of epiphytic microlichens can be used to support the phytosociological differentiation between Caatinga and Brejos de Altitude, as exemplified by the Muralha Reserve (Caatinga) and the Parque Estadual Mata do Pau Ferro (Brejo de Altitude), in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. A total of 755 lichen samples were collected, comprising 18 families, 42 genera and 111 species of epiphytic, corticolous microlichens. Overall species richness was higher in the Caatinga, with 67 species, compared to the Brejo, with 46 species. Species richness per sample was significantly higher in the Caatinga compared to the Brejo. Taxonomic composition also differed significantly between the two areas, with Arthoniaceae, Caliciaceae, Chrysothrichaceae, Graphidaceae (particularly Graphis), Lecanoraceae, Mycoporaceae, Pertusariaceae, and Trypetheliaceae being dominant in, or exclusive to, the Caatinga, whereas Coenogoniaceae, Graphidaceae (Diorygma, Fissurina, Myriotrema, Ocellularia, Phaeographis, Sarcographa), Malmideaceae, Porinaceae and Strigulaceae were dominant in, or exclusive to, the Brejo. Five new species were discovered as result of this study. This is the first study to quantitatively compare richness and community patterns of epiphytic microlichens between two major biomes in Northeastern Brazil, and the first detailed lichen study in the state of Paraíba.

Hongos asociados al mangle rojo Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) en la Reserva de la Biosfera Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México

“…(Lythraceae) en Sri Lanka (Maduranga et al, 2018). Los últimos registros a nivel mundial se encuentran en Puerto Rico (Mercado-Díaz y Sur, 2009), Florida (Lucking et al, 2011), noroeste de la India (Das et al, 2013), Bermuda (Berger y LaGreca, 2014), noroeste de Brasil (Leite et al, 2015), norte de Estados Unidos de América (Esslinger, 2016) y Antillas Holandesas (Aptroot y Stech, 2018). En México se ha registrado en Jalisco (Herrera-Campos et al, 2017).…”

Biogeografía y riqueza de los líquenes de Colombia

“…En el Neotrópico se han hecho estudios como el de Santos, et al (2019) que muestran las afinidades biogeográficas de los líquenes folícolas de los brejos de altitude de Brasil con otras regiones del Neotrópico, como el Chocó y la Amazonía, lo que evidencia su diversidad excepcional, resultado similar al de este estudio. También se ha encontrado que los líquenes son indicadores de la diferenciación de los brejos de altitude de la Catinga (Leite, et al, 2015).…”

Distinct lichen community in riparian forests along an anthropogenic disturbance gradient in Southern Brazil

“…Accordingly, the determination of the composition, diversity and structure of the lichen community can be used as a diagnostic model of environmental quality in an urbanization gradient. On the other hand, the phytosociological approach of the lichen community as a tool in the analysis of forest areas in tropical and subtropical environments is still incipient (Leite et al 2015;Käffer et al 2015). Thus, we hypothesize that the structural parameters, diversity and composition of the lichen community are different in forest sites according to the matrices in which they are inserted, and we assume that there will be: (1) reduction of species richness in the rural-urban-industrial matrices; (2) modification in the structural parameters of the lichen community with a predominance of characteristic taxa in the urban-industrial matrices, and (3) homogenization of the lichen community in the most urbanized and industrialized environments.…”