A Need for Lichen Bio-deterioration Study on Ratnagiri and Udayagiri Excavation Site of Jajpur, Odisha

Abstract

A recent survey to study the lichens in Ratnagiri and Udayagiri excavated sites of Jajpur, Odisha
revealed that the monuments and statues were prone to both bio-physical and bio-chemical
weathering by lichens. The common crustose lichens belong to the lichen genera Lecidella,
Buellia, Lecanora, Lepraria were predominant on monuments. A few members such as species
of Dirinaria and Pyxine were found growing luxuriantly on the monuments. An interesting case
of lichen attack was observed in several statues and sculptures scattered in open areas. The sides
of statues on a sculpture receiving less sunlight and remain in the shade for a longer time have
more moisture conditions thus these patches are heavily colonised by crustose Lecideloid species
of Amandinea in association with powdery Lepraria, Lecidella, Pertusaria to leaf-like Pyxine
and Dirinaria of family Physciaceae.