Study of Lichen Diversity in Shankaracharya Forest

An assessment had been carried out in Shankaracharya forest ecosystem Srinagar, to explore the lichen diversity of the region. A total of 19 lichen species were found during the study period belonging to the 9 families and 14 genera. Among the growth forms Foliose was the most frequently encountered lichen from with 14 species followed by Crustose with 4 species and Fruticose with 1 species. The lichens were found to be growing on different substratum; trees, dead wood, rocks and moss with the epiphytic lichens as dominating type. Lichen diversity values (LDV) were generated based on recorded epiphytic, Lignicolous and treemoss lichens. Mean LDV was recorded highest for epiphytic lichens (891.10) followed by Lignicolous lichens (730.00) and treemoss lichens (486.66).While as frequency, density and abundance was measured in Saxicolous and Rockmoss lichens. The maximum mean density of 8.60 and minimum values of 0.33 was depicted by Candelaria conclor and Xanthoria parietina respectively among Saxicolous lichens. While in case of Rockmoss lichens, Candelaria conclor recorded high mean density (8.77) and the least was recorded for Physconia distorta (1.77).