Author : Ejem, Lynnettee A.

Summary : An inventory of the lichen flora was conducted in four selected sites in Mindanao, namely : Mt. Luway (Montane Forest) and Mt. Maypayag (Mossy Forest) of Mt. Kalatungan Range, Pangantucan, Bukidnon; Ulohan sa Dapitan (Montane Forest) and North Peak (Mossy Forest) of Mt. Malindang Range, Misamis Occidental. Field collections of the lichens were done through the alpha taxonomy method. Taxonomic keys were prepared to identify the genera and species of lichens. Results of the inventory in the four study sites revealed a total of 123 species, 53 genera and 32 families of lichens. Taxonomic characters of each species such as growth forms (crustose, foliose, fruticose), mode of branching, color, texture, size, shape, thickness of thallus, rhizines, apothecia, isidia, soralia or soredia, perithecia and pycnidia were used to identify and classify the lichens. The species diversity between study sites showed that Mt. Maypayag and Mt. Luway have higher species composition and species similarity indices than those of North Peak and Ulohan sa Dapitan. Species richness is highest in Mt. Maypayag among the study sites. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference in the lichen composition between Mt. Maypayag and other study sites is highly significant. Assessment of lichens revealed that two of the species studied, Cetreliopsis rhytidocarpa and Nephromopsis nephromoides are new records in the Philippines while one of the species, Malcomiella sp. could possibly be new to science. Local assessment showed 55% of the lichens are common species and 45% are considered rare. The presence of sensitive lichens such as species of Lobaria, Leptogium, Pertusaria, Psedocyphellari, Pyremula and Usnea in the study sites would indicate that the forests are free of air pollution and are still in good condition. On the other hand, the presence of tolerant lichens such as Graphis elegans, Graphis scripta, Lecanora expallens, Licidella elaeochroma, Amandinea punctata.