Message - 7th IAL Symposium

The 7 th International Association for Lichenology Symposium 2012
(3B-2-O2) Submission ID: IAL0205-00001
THE INVESTIGATION OF EPIPHYTIC LICHENS DIVERSITY
IN THE NORTHEAST OF THAILAND
Dathong W. 1 , Thanee N. 1 , Saipunkaew W. 2
1 Biology, Suranaree University of Technology, Science, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
2 Biology, Chiang Mai University, Science, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Epiphytic lichens were investigated on 160 mango trees in 16 sampling plots in eight provinces of
the Northeast of Thailand during January to December 2010 using the VDI method. The lichen species were
recorded on each tree and the frequency of each species was calculated in a grid frame of 20×50 cm². Lichen
specimens were collected and identified to species. The pH of bark of mango trees, which are important habitats
for lichen diversity, was determined. A total of 19 families, 31 genera and 86 species were collected. The growth
forms were 64.86% crustose, 34.86% foliose and 0.28% squamulose whilst foliose was not found in study areas.
Pyxine cocoes was the highest frequency followed by Chrysothrix xanthina, Lecanora leprosa and Graphis sp.1,
respectively. The two lowest frequencies were Lepraria sp. and Graphis sp. This investigation discovered that
nine lichen species (e.g. Phyllopsora sp., Parmotrema sp., Graphis sp.) were found only in inside city while 15
lichen species (e.g. Amandinea punctata, Buellia sp., Cladonia sp.,and Pyrenula sp.) were found only in outside
city . These can be regarded as good indicators for the environment of the Northeast of Thailand. The species
richness was not significantly different at the 99% significance level for outside and inside city, whilst species
evenness and species index showed significant difference at the 99% significance level (t = -1.814 and -2.287
respectively, p