Phorophyte specificity of lichen community, with ecological taxation in Suruli watershed, Southern Western Ghats

Abstract

The Lichens is an essential component of all kinds of ecosystems. They are one of the flora's dominant components, and it accumulates about eight percent of the terrestrial ecosystem. India is an assorted vegetative tropical country. Four major ecological factors produce several microclimatic niches for the growth of lichens in the Western Ghats. First attempt to correlate the lichen population and species richness with the natural and silviculture challenges. During collection, surprisingly uninformed rainfall has observed in the summer season too. Eco-lichenological ranks premeditatedly founded on altitude, geo-specificities, substrates or habitats and morpho-types. The environmental variables revealed that the lichen density was more about spring to summer (27.3 to 25.5%), 23.5 to 18.5% during the winter and late autumn periods. The luxuriant growth of lichen thalli has notified on the rainy and Autumn seasons. Meanwhile, the crustose group of fruiting bodies flourished during the summer season. The terrestrial forest habits occurring on the cryptogamic and phanerogamic plants, including lichens. Most forests hold with the tribal and ethnic community; they suffered from terrestrial human and motor vehicle movements and forest fires, landslides, and more, including endangered species. Natural and manmade forestation practises to be regulating to conserve forest and dependences.