Filling the knowledge gaps: corticolous lichen diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon
- Author:
- Vega M., Campoverde F., Jimbicti D., Benítez Á., Soria S., Sarango C., Calle-Moran M., Rojas M. & Romero V.
- Year:
- 2025
- Journal:
- Acta Amazonica
- Pages:
- 55: e55bc25002 [5 p.]
- Url:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202500022
While lichens are vital for ecosystem processes and serve as useful bioindicators, lichen diversity remains understudied,
particularly in southern Ecuador. Here, we report the first inventory of corticolous (on tree bark) lichens in the Pachicutza
watershed, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, in the Amazonian region. We conducted a random survey across the understory
of the forest, without predefined sampling units (40 trees were sampled within a 2500 m² area). A total of 30 lichen species
from 19 families were recorded, with the most frequent species in the Parmeliaceae and Roccellaceae. Additional noteworthy
species were identified in the Graphidaceae, Trypetheliaceae, and Pyrenulaceae. This small sampling revealed a diversity of
lichens in the Pachicutza watershed, which should be protected as a reservoir of biodiversity. Although the area is currently
well-preserved, the increasing pressures of mining and deforestation in the region underscore the need for monitoring ecological
integrity. Future research should explore new molecular approaches for characterizing lichen diversity, which have implications
for assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on these ecosystems.
Keywords: Amazonian Forest, bioindicators, Crustose lichens, Graphidaceae, lichenized fungi, Parmeliaceae.
- Id:
- 39037
- Submitter:
- zpalice
- Post_time:
- Tuesday, 18 November 2025 12:01

