В национальном парке Матикеттан-Шола в Индии обнаружен новый вид лишайника

Researchers have discovered a new species of lichen, Buellia maharajensis, in Mathikettan Shola National Park. This marks the fourth lichen variety discovered within the park, near Santhanpara in Idukki. A five-member team made the discovery during a lichen diversity survey, and their findings were recently published in international journal Taiwania. The newly discovered species is a saxicolous lichen that grows directly on rock surfaces and was recorded at an elevation of approximately 1,351 m. The study was co-authored by Stephen Sequeira, retired associate professor, alongside senior research fellow Aswathi Anilkumar and research fellow Arun Christy associated with the Lichenology laboratory at the Post Graduate and Research Department of Botany, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. The team also included Siljo Joseph of the KSCSTE–Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), as well as Sanjeeva Nayaka and Roshinikumar Ngangom from the CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow. Dr. Sequeira noted that Mathikettan Shola is recognised as a lichen hub. During Ms. Aswathi’s field research, around 250 lichen species were documented in the park. “Around 60 species were recorded for the first time in Kerala, alongside 15 new records for India. Our team had previously discovered three other new species here,” he said. “Lichens are typically found in undisturbed forest ecosystems. Since Mathikettan Shola was declared a protected area, lichen growth has expanded significantly. Undisturbed habitats play a vital role in conserving these organisms,” Dr. Sequeira added. He further noted that Buellia maharajensis was named in honour of Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. “The study highlights the college’s continuing contribution to biodiversity research, taxonomy, and scientific exploration. The specific epithet maharajensis was chosen as a tribute to the institution’s long-standing academic legacy,” he explained. Covering 12.82 sq km, Mathikettan Shola National Park plays a crucial role in the region’s ecology. The Keralam government officially notified the area as a national park on November 21, 2003.