Biota and Environment of Natural Areas

Rodnikova I.M., Skirina I.F., Skirin F.V.

Lichens of Askold Island (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan)

Year: 2019, Number: 2, Pages: 27-40

In the paper we present lichen list of Askold Island. The species were collected during field studies in 2013 and 2017. A total of 149 lichens included in the paper are new to the study area. Leptogium burnetiae, Menegazzia terebrata, Parmotrema reticulatum, Punctelia rudecta and Pyxine sorediata are included in Red Data Books of Russian Federation and Primorye territory. Anzia colpodes, A. opuntiella, Cetrelia japonica are comprised in Red Data Book of Primorski krai. Information on substrate and community distribution is given for each species. According to substrate distribution four substrate groups are distinguished: epiphytic, epilithic, epigeic and lichens sharing several substrates. Epiphytes are the most part of lichens (54,7% or 82 species) because of forest vegetation predominance. High diversity of epilithic species (34,7% or 52) is connected with high variety of rocky habitats on the island. Epigeic group has 9 species (6%). Poor diversity of epigeic species is explained by wide distribution of grass vegetation so lichens cannot compete with higher plants. Lichens which share several substrates include 7 species (4,7 %). The main lichen habitats are forest communities, screes, grass-bush communities and coastal rocks. Variety of substrates and habitats maintains high lichen diversity in top areas. Lowest diversity was observed in grass-bush communities.

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