Rare and relict lichens of the North-Eastern Okhotsk region (Magadan Region)

УДК 582.29(571.65)

Abstract

In the Magadan region, lichens belong to one of the most widespread groups of organisms that dominates the ground cover of most plant communities. However, the lichens of the region have been studied very poorly. When studying any flora, the question always arises about relict species that are of particular importance in the history of vegetation formation. This work is aimed at eliminating significant gaps in knowledge about lichen flora, identifying rare and relict lichens of a scientifically interesting, unique territory - the North-Eastern Okhotsk region, including the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk with adjacent mountains and separated from the internal mainland regions of the Magadan region of Okhotsk-Kolyma watershed. In total, 412 species are known for the lichen flora of the North-Eastern Okhotsk region, of which 20 species of lichens are mesophilic relicts (8) and “relictoids” (12) of the Tertiary period. These are nemoral-subtropical Heterodermia speciosa, Pseudocyphellaria crocata, Lobaria scrobiculata, Koerberia biformis, Fuscopannaria cheiroloba, Leptogium burnetiae, L. cyanescens, Normandina pulchella, etc. Three species (Peccania coralloides, Toninia diffracta, Thallinocarpon nigritellum) are relicts xerothermic period. Also, the studied flora contains many rare lichens (18 species with narrow and 4 species with wide ranges).