Diversity and Distribution of Corticolous Lichens across Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

  • Bhasker Punjani P.G. Centre in Botany, Smt. S. M. Panchal Science College, Talod-383215, Gujarat, India.
  • Jayesh Raval Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan-384265, Gujarat, India.
  • Sanjeeva Nayaka Lichenology Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  • Kumar Upreti Lichenology Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Abstract

This study investigates the diversity and distribution of corticolous lichens in the Marine Protected
Area (MPA) on India’s west coast, surveying 57 locations within the Marine National Park and
Sanctuary (MNPS) between 2015 and 2018. A total of 495 specimens representing 38 species from
6 families and 14 genera were collected. Roccellaceae was the largest family (45%), and Arthonia
and Opegrapha were the dominant genera (23.7% each). The majority of lichens were crustose
(87%), with a few foliose and one fruticose species (Roccella montagnei). Most specimens
were from islands (67%), with the remainder from coastal areas influenced by human activity.
Lichens were found on 26 host plants, with Salvadora persica supporting the most specimens
(25%). Only 16% of specimens came from three mangrove species. Notably, seven species new
to India were - Arthonia sexlocularis, A. varia, Lecanographa lynceoides, Opegrapha graphidiza,
O. microspora, O. rufescens and O. subcentrifuga and 20 species new to Gujarat. In addition,
three species were observed as rare, while four species as endemic to India. The study provides
a baseline for lichen diversity, emphasizing their role as bioindicators for environmental health
and their potential applications in medicine, industry, and pollution monitoring.

Keywords: Coastal belt, Corticolous lichens, Gujarat, Islands, Marine Protected Area, Mangroves.

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