Ecolichenology of Eastern Ghats diversity against climatic fluctuations in Kolli Hills, India

Abstract

Abstract. Subbaiyan R, Ganesan A, Dhanuskodi S. 2023. Ecolichenology of Eastern Ghats diversity against climatic fluctuations in Kolli Hills, India. Biodiversitas 24: 625-635. Lichens are major components of earthbound and marine environments. A lichen is a symbiotic form of algae and fungi adapted to survive in different altitudes and environmental conditions. The lichen morphology is divided into three, based on their habitat: crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens. Eastern Ghats (EG) contribute significantly to both the endemicity and species richness of the Indian region. However, EG forests are relatively unexplored and have received less conservation consideration than the Western Ghats. Unexplored Eastern Ghats were studied to analyze the ecolichenology against climatic fluctuations. The objective of this paper is to build a stock of epiphytic lichens within the Kolli slopes. Kolli Hills are one of the ancient richest floral and faunal biodiversity hotspots of Eastern Ghats. It is assessed from the year 2018 to that 2021 with different climatic seasonal variations. The least diversity was found with the Arthonioid > Usneoid > Scaly > Ramalinoid types. Highly denser than the Parmelioid foliose and Usneoid, the Ramlinoid species was rich in numbers with healthy thallus. The population was stopped, or the least amount of thallus growth was noticed from the high rainfall season and gradual reduction in the summer. The Ramalinoid and Parmelioid lichens were found to be easy identifiers. The richness was reduced dependently and independently with nature. The health of lichens was encountered with only morphological appurtenance. Based on the lichen group, the maximum distribution was observed in Usneoid and Ramalinoid categories. The last distribution was found with Leprose and Scaly lichens. The forest wealth was described with the denser lichen patches and the shrinkages of Parmelioid lichens, especially the Dirinaria and Parmoterma, acting as a wealth analysis tool of the forest ecosystems.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of antimicrobial, enzymatic, and antifouling properties of self‐potent lichen symbiotic bacteria

“…34,35 Lichens are major components of earthbound and marine environments involved in many biological and environmental applications. 36 The study paved the way for the assessment of antimicrobial and antifouling activ-ity that can be further extended for identification of the potential compounds that have prevented the attachment of foulers. 37 Natural product-based antifoulants have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional antifouling agents due to their unique properties and potential applications.…”

“…Lichens are major components of earthbound and marine environments involved in many biological and environmental applications 36 . The study paved the way for the assessment of antimicrobial and antifouling activity that can be further extended for identification of the potential compounds that have prevented the attachment of foulers 37…”

Self potent antimicrobial and antifouling properties of zinc nanoparticles derived from lichen symbionts

“…Nanomaterials from lichen associated bacteria, a technology boon, provide a variety of methods for improving the effectiveness of the inhibition of the microorganism to which they are inoculated 42 . This LAB was mainly isolated from the lichen parmeloid as it is easy identifier as cited in Reference 43. The Zn nanoparticle was synthesized from ZnSO 4 using the lichen bacterial isolates.…”

Virtual screening of the natural antifoulants: In silico approach to screen lichen metabolites against marine biofoulers

“…Lichens are a combination of the two organisms' algae and fungi, a rich source of secondary metabolites called lichen substances. The metabolites produced by lichen include varieties of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and terpenic compounds 12,13 . Lichen bacteria like Bacillus subtilis , can produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites.…”

“…The metabolites produced by lichen include varieties of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and terpenic compounds. 12,13 Lichen bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, can produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites. In this study, the antimicrobial effect of B. subtilis KSRLAB3 against Vibrio alginolyticus was optimized using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) method 14 The phytochemical analysis analyzed the presence of secondary metabolites namely alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, phytosterols, steroids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and proteins.…”