10- 12 NOVEMBER, 2010
ABSTRACTS & saUVE
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BOTANY
ECOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PREFERENCES OF CYANOBIONTS IN CYANOLICHENS OF UTIARAKHAND HIMALAYAS Roshoi Khare*t, Himanshu RaP, R. K. Gupta l and D. K. Upreti t
JDeporrmenro! Botany, Pt.L.M.5 Govt. (PG) College, Rishikesh l Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow Email:
[email protected] ichens are the most elegant
L symbiotic associations of nalure
inhabiting nearly all the terrestrial domains of the planet. The habitat
d i versity of lichens resulted into many morphological and functional
groups. Cyanolichens are an e.clusive group of lichen endowed with the capability of nitrogen fixation, enriching the substrate and playing an Important role in nutrient
cycling of the ecosystem . Cyanolichens have blue-green algal photobionts either alone (Bipartite) or with a primary green algal photobiont (Tripartite). India a rich centre of lichen
biodiversity comprises of nearly 200 species of cyanollchens, constituting about 9% of total lichen continuum. Photoblont distribution in cyanollchens o f Uttarakhand was analyzed to determine their morphological affinities and eCOlogical (habitat) preferences. Nastac was the major cyanoblont represented in about 93% of the cyanolichens of the region followed by 5cytonema (4%), Chroocaccus (1%), Anacystis (1%) and Xonthocopso (l%).Growth form preferences of cyanobionts showed select ive affinity towards foliose type (Nastae and 5cytanemo) whereas crustose
(Chroococcus and Xanthoeapsa) and squamulose (Anocysris) forms were intermittently preferred. EpiphyticCortlcolous (on bark) substrate were selectively occupied by Nas toe whereas Chrooeoccus, Anoeystis and Xanthoeapso inhabited saxicolous (on rock) substratum. 5cytanemo showed no specificity for subst ratum and were fou nd on all the available substrate re leves . Altitudinal distribution showed that cyanobiont associations were mainly distributed in temperate (1500-3000 mt.) to alpine (3000-3500 mI. ) habitats of Uttarakhand .
5'" Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress - 2010 • •
Or,';; lllliu li joill"), 11,' Department of Science and Technology Govt. of India, New Delhi
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Uttarakhand State Counci) for Science and Technology Department of Science and Technology Covt. of Uttarakhand 33, Vuanl Vl har, Phase-II, Dehradun Phone : 91 135 2762766 Fax : 91 135 2761063 E-mail :
[email protected]
National Biodiversity Authority Govt. of Ind ia
~~ Uttarakhand SciencE' Education and Research Centre Government of Utta rakhand
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Doon University MOlharawala Road. Kedarpur. PO Ajabpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Pho ne: 91 135253201 2, 2533 102 Fax: 91 1352532014
E-mail: doonvc@gmaiLco m
National Academy of Sciences India Ullarakhand Chapter
Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board £- 11 5, Neh ru Colo ny, Dt!hradun
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1 Uttarakhand Renewal Energy Development Agency
Patelnagar. Dehradun
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