International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 679

Full Length Research Paper

Distribution of Lichens on few ancient monuments of Sonitpur district, Assam, North East India

Manas Pratim Chudhury
  • Manas Pratim Chudhury
  • Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781001, Assam, India.
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Mandira Sarma
  • Mandira Sarma
  • Department of Botany, Cotton College, Guwahati-781001, Assam, India.
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Sanjeeva Nayaka
  • Sanjeeva Nayaka
  • Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, CSIR, Lucknow 226001, U.P., India.
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Dilip Kumar Upreti
  • Dilip Kumar Upreti
  • Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, CSIR, Lucknow 226001, U.P., India.
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  •  Received: 21 March 2016
  •  Accepted: 15 September 2016
  •  Published: 30 November 2016

Abstract

This preliminary investigation describes the diversity and distribution of lichens from the different archaeological monuments of Sonitpur district, located in the Eastern Himalayan region of India, which is a part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. It is a land of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage and it is well reflected in the number of archaeological sites and monuments of ancient time at this region. Enumerations of 38 species of lichen belonging to 21 genera and 15 families have been reported from the archaeological monuments of Sonitpur district. 6 species are new records for this state. Members of Physciaceae showed higher dominance with 11 species followed by Teloschistaceae with 4 species and Lecanoraceae and Verrucariaceae each containing 3 species, respectively. Cryptothecia subnidulans is the most widespread species, reported from 7 study sites.

 

Key words: Diversity, Eastern Himalayan, heritage, hot spot, species.