| Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Prithiviraj, Bharath [1], Gopalasamudram Neelakantan, Hariharan [1]. Lichen diversity and distribution pattern in the Dry deciduous forests of Walayar-Madukkarai region, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India : its correlation to the disturbance regime. Quantitative assessments of lichen communities and individual species are considered as the best bioindicators of air pollution world over. This study reports the impact of cement dust pollution on the lichen diversity and distribution pattern in the Dry deciduous forests of Walayar -Madukkarai, E 76° 45' 30” N 10° 49’ 50" to E 76° 54’10'' N 10° 54’ 10" of the Western Ghats (a biodiversity hot spot), India. Assessments were made using quantitative ecological data by the establishment of macroplots (to sample edaphic, climatic & vegetation types, pollution and distribution parameters) and lichen microplots (to sample lichen diversity, relative density, relative dominance and frequency as well as individual species? preference to macro and micro habitat conditions). Sensitivity of the selected lichen species to local atmospheric pollutants was analyzed in terms of the vitality of the species? photosynthetic partner through total chlorophyll content measurement and cell membrane integrity assays. Ultra structural analysis of the mycobiont using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Particle Induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectroscopy for elemental distribution profiles of the indicator lichen species was also carried out. Multivariate statistical tools such as data reduction methods were used to draw the gradients that affect the lichen diversity and distribution pattern as well as to identify the indicator species. Acknowledgements: Funding by Department of Biotechnology (DBT),Govt. of India, New Delhi, India. Instrumentation: Physical Metallurgy Section & Particle Irradiation Facility, Material Science Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India.
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1 - M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Lichen Ecology and Bioprospecting Laboratory, 3 rd cross street, Taramani Institutional Area,, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 113, INDIA
Keywords:
Lichens,SEM, PIXE.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 15-10
Location: Salon A - Gov Ballroom/Hilton
Date: Monday, August 15th, 2005
Time: 4:15 PM
Abstract ID:28 |
