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

Acdemia Arena 2010, Supplement 0201
http://www.sciencepub.net
More than 100 twig samples of each species of Oak were randomly collected from three
altitudinal gradient during months of October-November 2006. The altitude between 1500-2000m
exhibit growth of Quercus leucotrichophora (White Oak), followed by 2000-2500m of Q.
floribunda (Green Oak) and above 2,500m of Quercus semecarpifolia (Brown Oak) respectively.
The collected twigs were categorized in five diameter size classes of 0-1cm, 1.1-2.0cm, 2.1-3.0cm,
3.1-4.0cm and more than 4.1cm.
The diameters of 20 twig samples of each class were measured. Individuals of macrolichen
species growing on each twig were counted.
Results and Discussion
All the three oak trees exhibit luxuriant growth of Parmelioid lichens and members of lichen
family Physciaceae together with fruticose lichen of genera Ramalina and Usnea (Table 1-3).
a) Lichens associated with twigs of Q. leucotrichophora (altitude between 1,500-2,000 m):
The twigs of Q. leucotrichophora bear only 12 species of lichens (Table 1). The twigs of
diameter 3.1-4.0cm and more than 4.1cm bear 82 and 27 individuals of lichens.
Parmotrema wallichiana exhibits occurrence on twigs of all five diameter classes twigs but
the diameter class 3.1-4.0 cm bears the maximum individuals P. wallichiana followed by
twig classes 0-1.0 cm, 1.1-2.0cm, 2.1-3.0 and more than 4.1cm. Parmelioid lichens
dominate the Q. leucotrichophora twigs than Usneoid lichens.
b) Lichens associated with twigs of Q. floribunda (altitude between 2,000 m-2,500 m): The
twigs of Q. floribunda bear 16 species of lichens (Table 2). The twigs of diameter more than
4.1cm exhibit occurrence 71 individuals. E. nepalense, dominates on all the five diameter
class of twigs. But the diameter class 3.1-4.0cm and 1.1-2.0 cm bear similar number of
individuals. The fruticose lichens exhibit higher association with Q. floribunda twigs than
the foliose form.
c) Lichens associated with twigs of Q. semecarpifolia (altitude above 2,500 m): Q.
semecarpifolia twigs bear 29 species of lichens (Table 3). The twigs of diameter class more
than 4.1cm bear 148 individuals of lichens. E. nepalense exhibits its occurrence all the five
diameter classes of twigs. The twig class 3.1-4.0cm bears the maximum individuals
followed by twigs of 2.1-3.0cm and 1.1-2.0cm. The diameter class of 0-1.0cm towards the
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