Lucknow: They may look like little patches of moss on rocks or tree trunks, but lichens can tell scientists a great deal about the health of the environment.In a breakthrough, the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) has discovered nine lichen species in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar and Satna districts..The study, conducted by Gaurav K. Mishra of CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, along with Shweta Tiwari and Kanchan Awasthi of Maharishi University of Information Technology (MUIT), Lucknow, has been published in the international journal Vegetos.“Our findings show that the Vindhyachal region is home to a rich diversity of lichens, including many that were previously unrecorded from this area,” said Mishra, a CSIR-NBRI scientist and co-author of the study.Mishra explained that lichens are not merely growths found on rocks and trees. They are a partnership between a fungus and an alga. While the fungus provides shelter and support, the alga produces food through photosynthesis.“Lichens can act as natural environmental monitors. They absorb substances from the air and rain and can be affected by pollutants, including heavy metals. Their presence and diversity can therefore provide important clues about changing environmental conditions,” he said.Explaining the significance of the research, CSIR-NBRI director Dr Zabeer Ahmed said, “Lichens are sensitive indicators of environmental change, and their diversity provides valuable information about the health of an ecosystem.”He added that lichens also play an important ecological role. They gradually break down bare rocks, aiding soil formation, while some species capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to plants.
