New records of lichenized fungi in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia

Abstract

The lichen diversity of the Caribbean region of Colombia is one of the least known in the county. In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), whose forests are at risk of disappearing due to deforestation, 114 species of lichens have been recorded. We collected lichens at elevations from 500 to 2500 m on the northwestern slopes of the SNSM, and we report six genera and 19 species from this region for the first time. Our results highlight the importance of exploring new areas to enhance our knowledge of the lichens of SNSM and Colombia.

Keywords

• Coffee crops
• epiphytic lichens
• sub-Andean forest