UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The Western Ghats of India are recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot; however, lichen diversity in many protected forest landscapes including western ghats remains insufficiently documented, particularly in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, India. The present study investigated the diversity and distribution patterns of lichens in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Field surveys conducted across 50 plots representing different forest types recorded 81 lichen species belonging to 27 genera and 12 families. Parmeliaceae was the dominant family, followed by Physciaceae and Caliciaceae. Diversity analysis indicated high species richness with uneven distribution patterns, as reflected by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′ = 1.363) and Simpson's diversity index (1-D = 0.98). Evergreen and moist deciduous forests supported greater species richness and diversity than dry deciduous forests, indicating the influence of humid microclimatic conditions on lichen assemblages. Multivariate analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear variation in species composition among forest types. With the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) of 10.82, Heterodermia japonica was identified as the most dominant and widely distributed lichen species. Notably, Cetrelia braunsiana, Heterodermia dactyliza, Heterodermia hypochraea and Pyxine petricola var. pallida are reported here for the first time from Tamil Nadu. The study provides valuable baseline information on lichen diversity and emphasises the importance of conserving forest habitats in the Western Ghats for long-term biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem management.