Lichens and vegetation complexes of Mt. Tioul-Shaman (Khabarovsky Territory, Russia)

Lidia S. YAKOVCHENKO1, Alexander V. ERMOSHKIN2
1 Botanical Garden-Institute FEB RAS, Vladivostok, Russia
2 Institute of Water and Ecological Problems FEB RAS, Khabarovsk, Russia

The lichen diversity and vegetation complexes of the Tioul-Shaman Mt. (1181 m a.s.l.) were studied. The mountain belongs to the foothills of North Sikhote-Alin Mts. Adjacent to the Amur River channel. Lichens from this mountain were not previously studied. Within the study area we found high taxonomic (205 species). This is related to highly variable substrates and habitats. The lichen biota of the forest belt is essentially boreal with some East-Asian characteristics such as several species of Nephromopsis, Cetrelia, Lobaria, Myelochroa, etc. The presence of amphi-oceanic taxa as Pseudocyphellaria crocata, Sticta limbata and Fuscopannaria ahlneri reflects the location of the study area within the zone of Pacific influence. In relic mountain oak forests as well as in mixed floodplain forests, we detected the most frequent occurrence of East-Asian nemoral taxa. The lichen biota of cliffs is rather diverse being associated with a lengthy history of substrate development. We found 3 new species for the southern Far East – Calvitimela aglaea, Lecanora intricata and Umbilicaria proboscidea, 2 new species for the Far East – Fuscidea asyndeta and Lecanora achariana. The lichen biota of krummholz Betula ermanii forest is of interest due to several rare taxa of crustose species such as Pertusaria carneopallida, Biatora sphaeroidiza, B. subduplex and Caloplaca pyracea. The latter three species were collected for the first time in this area. Pycnora leucococca has a Eurasian-American, rather broadly distributed in boreal zone, but was found in southern Far East the first time. In addition, Lecanora subintricata and Rinodina olivaceobrunnea are also new species for the southern Far East, together with Lecanora saligna for the Far East. Thus, the lichen biota of the Tioul-Shaman Mt. is of manifold interest for biodiversity. As well as being rich in nemoral species, there are 7 lichen species which are included in the Red Book. The results of this study clearly indicate that the area should be recommended as a protected nature reserve in order to conserve these valuable lichen habitats.



© 2012 Organizing Committee