Diversity & Distribution of Tropical Macrolichens in Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Southern India

A total of 58 species of lichens were documented from the present study area, which is located between 13°40ʹ and 14°05ʹ N to 75°10ʹ and 75°35ʹ E longitude with wide range of ecosystem diversity at Shettihalli wildlife sanctuary, Shimoga district of Karnataka, India. We have surveyed a total area of 396 sq km which supports for 41 genera of lichens from 22 families. Some important lichen genera of the areas are Ramalina, Usnea, Heteroderma, Parmotrema etc. Corticolous lichens were found to be dominated in abundance, represented by 86%. Crustose lichens were represented by 54 species followed by foliose (43) and fruticose (14) species. The present investigations showed that the deciduous forests support a good macrolichen community’s diversity then the semi-evergreen forests in nearby area. An interesting observation made in the area is that fruticose lichens were restricted to branches of the tree and main trunk was dominated by foliose lichens. Important host trees which support the growth and distribution of lichens in the area are Tectona grandis, Terminalia spp., Adina cordifolia, Hopea spp., and Xylia xylocarpa