Executive Summary : | Cold Deserts of India (ca. 98,980 sq km1) are classified into two physiographic classes: Trans-Himalaya, and Inner Dry Valleys, within which Cold Desert of Uttarakhand (ca. 1500 km2) falls in Inner Dry Valleys. It is distinguished by limited trophic levels & existence of comparatively few peculiar biodiversity elements viz., bacteria, black yeasts, fungi, mosses, lichens, microalgae2-6 colonizing the bare rock surfaces. Among these elements, fungi can be clustered into five ecological groups7: 1) epi- & endolithic lichens; 2) lichenicolous fungi; 3) fungi associated with plants & bryophytes8; 4) free-living hyphomycetes & yeasts; 5) meristematic fungi. Within these groups, lichens not only constitute a major component of the flora of this region9 but also provide shelter to symbiotic photobionts10, bacteria11-15, lichenicolous fungi16, endolichenic fungi17, black fungi18-20 and allow these organisms to cope with diverse secondary products of lichens for their survival. Lichenicolous fungi living exclusively on lichens, represented by 2319 species21 worldwide, are least known biological group of fungi & significant source of new species22. They are well studied in Europe & America whereas, tropical countries viz., Africa, Asia and S. America are almost virgin. Even after seven decades of extensive lichenological research in India, little attention has been paid to this group by Indian lichenologists/mycologists23-44. Though publications dealing with lichen diversity of alpine regions of Uttarakhand are available45-49, but none have reported the occurrence of lichenicolous fungi from this region. The PI started working on lichenicolous fungi from Uttarakhand & reported 105 species including several new species and a new genus30,41. Of these 105 species, 60 are known from alpine regions colonizing 25 different lichens, indicating that these alpine lichens are not only helping other living organisms to sustain, establish & disseminate in extreme environments, but also making themselves a potential cradle of fungal diversity in India. It’s really a pity that we are far behind Europeans & Americans, who not only have explored licheincolous fungal diversity of their country, but also cultured them for their bioprospection50,51. In India, baseline data and actual procedure of collection & preservation of lichenicolous fungi is in infancy which leads to under-representation of this group in conservation management, astrobiology, ecological & climate change studies. Since these organisms can't exist without lichens, hence loss of lichen would lead to extinction of lichenicolous fungi also. Hence this project is framed to answer following questions: a) Whether the region has a rich diversity of lichenicolous fungi & lichens? b) Whether there is any taxonomic novelty including RET taxa? c) Which regions are Lichenicolous Rich Zones? The study will raise awareness amongst mycologists, lichenologists & ecologists to address issues of future introductions. |