Abstract: Lichens are one of the excellent examples of symbiotic association, are group of non-vascular cryptogams, occur in all possible environmental habitats of the world, but are diverse in tropical region and luxuriant in temperate-alpine areas. Study was conducted in selected Coffee plantation areas of Mudigere taluk located in Chikkamagaluru district of Central Western Ghats. In present work about 30 species of lichens belonging to17 genera and 13 families were enumerated from six different sites by lying quadrate. Most of the species collected were corticolous, grading their growth form 56.6% with crustose, 40% with foliose and 3.3% with fruticose thallus. Identification of these lichens done at genus level based on the colour test and relevant keys. Highest representative of six species from Parmeliaceae family, Physciaceae (5 species), Arthoniaceae (4), Graphidaceae (4), Ramalinaceae (3), Pertusariaceae (2), Caliciaceae (3) exhibited the maximum diversity in the area. The families like Collemataceae, Crysotricaceae, Stereocaulaceae, Pyrenulaceae and Lecanoraceae represented single species each. A majority of lichen species were found to favour woody habitat. The species diversity on bark demonstrated with maximum number of species because bark provides a very fertile substrate for rich growth of the lichens, whereas the soil harbours poor diversity probably due to spraying of chemicals in coffee plantation like herbicide, pesticide and fungicide.

Keywords: Diversity, Lichens, Coffee plantation, Mudigere taluk, Central Western Ghats

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2021.81203