Abstract

QUILHOT, Wanda et al. Lichens of Aisen, Southern Chile. Gayana Bot. [online]. 2012, vol.69, n.1, pp.57-87. ISSN 0717-6643.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-66432012000100007.

The lichen mycobiota of Aisen (southern Chile) comprises 319 taxa in 87 genera. All of the species of Menegazzia and Protousnea, previously recorded in Chile, are present in this region. The diversity of biomes, from temperate rainforests -particularly in oceanic zones- to steppe areas, offers an enormous number of macro and microhabitats favorable for lichens. The highest lichen diversity, 56 %, was recorded in an undisturbed locality in Laguna San Rafael National Park. Lichen species diversity is higher in oceanic temperate rainforests than in steppe areas, where the majority of Antarctic lichens (23 %) are registered. Levels of endemism are rather high (26 %) and are due mainly to species of the genera Protousnea, Pseudocyphellaria, Menegazzia, Cladonia, Sticta, Nephroma. Other biogeographical elements in the region's lichen mycobiota are: cosmopolitan (16 %), austral (16 %) and bipolar (13 %). Lichen diversity in Aisen represents about 20 % of the known lichen mycobiota of Chile.

Keywords : Lichen diversity; endemism; steppe areas; biogeography.

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