Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Species richness and community dynamics of lichens across elevational gradients in district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
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Research Articles | Published: 23 June, 2025
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Keywords: Elevational gradient, Lichen communities, Growth form, Representative taxonomic unit, Species richness
Abstract
Lichens make a substantial contribution to overall biodiversity. The distribution patterns of lichens were analyzed in relation to elevational gradients and their influence on lichen diversity. The study was done across elevational gradients ranging from 500 m to 2700 m consisting of three different biomes namely tropical, sub-tropical and sub-temperate regions. In our study, we utilized Generalized Additive Models (GAM) to analyze lichen species richness and growth form distribution patterns across an elevation gradient. This method offers a robust and taxonomically nuanced framework for exploring how environmental gradients such as elevation effect species richness. RTU1, RTU2, RTU3, RTU4, RTU6, RTU9, and RTU11 show significant relationships with elevation (p < 0.05). These RTUs have non-linear relationships with elevation, with the effective degrees of freedom (edf) > 1. A hump-shaped curve was observed for species richness in relation to elevation. Lichen diversity was documented for the area and dominant family was Parmeliaceae (26 species), followed by Physciaceae (19 species) and Caliciaceae (9 species) and Collemataceae (9 species). The current study identified 88 lichen species across 37 genera and 14 families in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The hump-shaped distribution, with peak lichen richness at mid-elevations, emphasizes the ecological value of these zones and the need to consider elevational patterns in conservation planning.
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Author Information
Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Summerhill, Shimla, India