Untangling Quantitative Lichen Diversity in and Around Badrinath Holy Pilgrimage of Western Himalaya, India

The present study was conducted in the Badrinath holy pilgrimage in Western Himalaya. Lichen collected from seven localities (Badrinath, enroute Bhimpul to Vasudhara, Mana, enroute Vasudhara to Mana, Bhimpul, Vasudhara Glacier and enroute Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier). The highest overall IVI (6.64) was recorded for Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca. The maximum number of lichens have been documented in Badrinath locality (139 spp.) while minimum (6) in enroute Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier. The Badrinath has also express maximum 71 site specific species, while the Vasudhara Glacier has only 2 species. The dominance has been computed maximum (0.17) for enroute Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier while, minimum for the Badrinath (0.01). The lowest Simpson Index value (0.83) has been recorded in enroute Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier while the highest (0.99) in Badrinath. The lowest value of Berger-Parker diversity index (0.03), as well as the highest values of Brillouin, Shannon, Menhinick, Margalef and Fisher alpha diversity indices (7.20, 4.78, 8.03, 24.2 and 100.6 respectively) from the Badrinath locality, designates it as a site of highest species diversity. While enroute Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier locality shows the highest value of Berger-Parker diversity index (0.17) as well as the lowest values of Brillouin, Shannon, Menhinick, Margalef and Fisher alpha diversity indices (1.75, 1.79, 0.35, 0.88 and 1.03 respectively). The value of evenness and equitability has been computed maximum (1.00) for enroute Vasudhara to Mana and Vasudhara to Bhagirathi Glacier localities, on the other hand, minimum (0.086 and 0.97 respectively) in the Badrinath. KeywordsLichens, Quantitative Ecology, Badrinath, IVI, Alpha Diversity.