Lichen communities in Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica (original) (raw)

The research focuses on the lichen communities in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica, aiming to provide baseline ecological information prior to the establishment of a new research base by India. A total of 114 samples were collected from McLeod Island, yielding 196 colonies of 25 lichen species, with 12 species being new records for the area. The results reveal a dominance of crustose lichens, particularly Buellia frigida, emphasizing the ecological importance of these organisms as indicators of environmental conditions in Antarctic regions.