Diversity and peculiarities of lichens in subnival habitats of Shalbuzdag Mountain (East Caucasus, Dagestan, Russia)

Abstract: Ismailov, A. 2021. Diversity and peculiarities of lichens in subnival habitats of Shalbuzdag Mountain (East Caucasus, Dagestan, Russia). – Herzogia 34: 387–399. One hundred and four species of lichenized fungi and three species of lichenicolous fungi have been revealed in habitats above 3000 m a.s.l of Shalbuzdag Mountain. Some species are reported from these altitudes for the first time. Gyalolechia klementii is new for Russia and the Greater Caucasus. Heteroplacidium fusculum and Calvitimela aglaea are reported for the Greater Caucasus for the first time. Tetramelas papillatus, Toninia taurica and Rhizocarpon atroflavescens are new records for the East Caucasus. All of these species and Placidium rufescens are new for Dagestan. Habitats at an altitudinal range of 3000 –3200 m are characterized by the highest species richness. Lichens of the family Teloschistaceae are the core of the lichen flora with the highest number of recorded species (26) and genera (11). The lichen communities at mount Shalbuzdag are dominated by species preferring arid habitats, but there are also arctic-alpine species. For the first time, detailed data are provided on the lichen diversity in arid calcareous habitats above 3000 m in the Caucasus and Russia.