Lichen synusiae in East Antarctica (Schirmacher Oasis and Larsemann Hills): substratum and morphological preferences

Abstract

Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems experience some of the most extreme growth conditions, where plant distribution is determined by favourable environmental gradients of temperature and moisture along with micro-topography of habitats. Lichens are among the most tolerant symbiotic organisms which constitute dominant component in the terrestrial biota of Antarctica. There are various studies dealing with patterns of lichen diversity of various regions of Antarctica are done but in east Antarctica such studies are scanty. Lichen synusiae of Schirmacher Oasis and McLeod Island, Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica were studied in order to determine their morphological and substratum affinities. The Lichen synusiae of the study sites was represented by 71 species, 24 genera and 13 families in Schirmacher Oasis and 27 species, 18 genera and 10 families in McLeod Island, Larsemann Hills. Hierarchical cluster analysis of lichen communities on the basis of growth form diversity and substratum occurrence showed that crustose growth form and saxicolous (on rock, stones and moraines) habitat were the most preferred, in both study sites. The study presents a representative account of morphological and substratum preference patterns in lichen synusiae of east Antarctica, which can be of fundamental importance for future lichenological investigation in the region.