Ecological, Social and Commercial Role of Lichens in India with ...

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Acdemia Arena 2010, Supplement 0201 http://www.sciencepub.net Mountains and hill hold a rich variety of ecological systems. Because of their vertical dimension, mountains create gradient of temperature, precipitation, and insulation. In Uttarakhand nine of the thirteen districts comprise the expansion of lesser Himalayas. But with the rapid modernization and increasing anthropogenic pressure coupled with natural disasters on vegetation in general and on the forests in particular, the Himalayan vegetation is rapidly deteriorating in its richness as well as diversity. However, in recent past there has been a deep concern and a realization for the conservation of the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Garhwal Himalaya exhibits sub-mountain to alpine climate with distinct physiography, altitudes, and aspects that harbours a variety of forest types. Owing to the varied topography and altitudes, diverse forest and alpine pasture communities may occur within a distance of 300-500 km (Singh, 1992). The distribution of different forest types is primarily governed by the altitude and secondarily by the factors such as geology, soils, orientation of the valleys and other biotic and abiotic stresses (Champion and Seth 1968). Forest account is nearly 45% of the total geographical area of the Garhwal Himalaya. A wide variety of forest types are found in this region of Uttarakhand hills. The vegetation is dominated by Quercus leucotrichophora (Banj oak), Q. floribunda (Tilonj oak) and Q. semecarpifolia (Kharsu oak) in altitudinal gradient. Some other main species found in the region are Abies pindrow, Rhododendron spp, Lyonia ovalifolia, Acer spp, Asculus indica and Ilex. Vegetation within a forest type is greatly affected by differences in the microclimate and altitude (Pande et al 1996). The selection pressure, originating due to the difference in microclimate and interspecific competition, influence the vegetation of different tree species and also open the door for the invasion and acclimatization of new species in the forest ecosystem. The interactive influence of the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment affects the survival and growth of seedlings and sprouts (Sorenson and Forrel 1979 and Muller-Dombios et al 1980). Topography and other mountain slopes, in combination with perennial streams and dark shady localities of the area have created micro-climatic conditions to provide diverse environmental conditions, encouraging luxuriant growth of several moisture loving lichens, orchids, herbs, shrubs and climbers, which have immense ecological as well as economical value. Altitudinally defined climatic and soil factors are deemed to be primary determinants of change in species composition and community structure in undisturbed mountains (Whittaker and Marks, 1975). Economic change and population increase is threatening the ecology of the 15
Acdemia Arena 2010, Supplement 0201 http://www.sciencepub.net Himalayas. In Garhwal Himalaya substantial increase in human and bovine population has taken place during last decades (Negi et al 1997 a & b). Simultaneously natural resources are depleting at an alarming rate (Negi 1991, Singh & Singh 1992, Chauhan et al 1999). The repercussion of these factors can be observed in lichen diversity of the area. Decline in crop yield and out migration of the rural people in search of livelihood has definite linkages to this situation. Hence the protection, improvement and rehabilitation of mountain have a critical importance in achieving the developmental goal. In recent years the deforestation in the foothills and the Middle Himalaya and, overgrazing on the high pastures have led to soil erosion and other environmental problems. Deforestation is a particular concern in the western Himalaya, where increased demand for firewood, extensive tree trimming to feed livestock, and construction of roads in the border regions have increased the destruction rate of forests and the number of landslides. Forest resources of the Himalaya are shrinking in size due to over-exploitation and there is increased interest to protect, manage and make them more protective. Competition, both within and among species, is one of the major forces determining the distribution and abundance of plant species and the biodiversity of plant communities (Tilman, 2000). Although most plants compete for the same resources (light, water and nutrients) and large number of species coexist in many plant communities (Silvertown and Charlesworth 2001). Intuitively, spatial heterogeneity of resources used by plants is probably one of the most powerful promoters of niche separation and coexistence between plants. The area is quite rich in lichen diversity and needs to be explored and inventoried critically. Thus, the present book is an attempt to inventories and study the lichens mass on standing trees as well as lichen fall estimation, lichen cover on host tree species and its vertical distribution pattern in the Garhwal Himalayas. Some part of the study like vertical distribution and cover of the lichen species, lichen dry mass estimation on host tree and lichen fall estimation methods are first time developed and followed by the author. There are three reasons why ecologists are interested in ecological diversity and its management. First, the well documented patterns of spatial and temporal variation in diversity which intrigued the early investigators of the natural world (Clements 1916; and Thoreau 1960) continue to stimulate the minds of ecologists today (Currie and Paquin 1987; May 1986). Second, measures of diversity are frequently seen as indicators of well being of ecological systems. Thirdly, considerable debate surrounds the measurement of diversity. Biodiversity indicators (popularly 16
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