1. Introduction.- 1.1 About lichens.- 1.2 Development and establishment.- 1.3 Role of lichens in soil establishment and biodeterioration.- 1.4 Effect of microclimatic condition on lichen diversity.- References.- 2. Secondary metabolites and its isolation & characterization .- 2.1 Environmental role of lichen substances.- 2.2 Biosynthetic pathways of lichen secondary metabolites.- 2.3 Isolation and modern spectroscopic techniques involved in characterization of lichen substances.- References.- 3. Selection of biomonitoring species.- 3.1 Criteria for selection of biomonitoring species .- 3.2 Biomonitoring species (world and India).- 3.3 Host plants for lichen colonization.- References.- 4. Toxitolerant lichens in different lichenogeographical regions of India.- 4.1. Distribution and diversity of widespread and rare lichen species in different lichenogeographical regions along with its pollution sensitivity.- 4.2. Key for identification of toxitolerant lichens in different lichenogeographical regions.- 4.3 Bioindicator lichen communities/species.- References.- 5. Ecosystem monitoring.- 5.1 Natural and human disturbances/disasters .- 5.1.1 Heavy metal.- 5.1.2 Arsenic (Metalloids).- 5.1.3 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).- 5.1.4 Radionuclides.- 5.1.5 Climate Change.- 5.1.6 Assessment of paleoclimatic conditions (Lichenometry).- 5.1.7 Loss of Biodiversity.- 5.2 Solely human disturbances/disasters (Economic development).- 5.2.1 Urbanisation, Expanding cities and Industrialization.- 5.2.2 Power plants.- 5.2.3 Persistent organic pollutants (POPs).- 5.2.4 Peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN).- 5.2.5 Ozone (O3).- 5.2.6 Increasing Tourism.- References .- 6. Management and conservational approaches.- References.- 7. Glossary.
About the Author: Vertika Shukla is M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry and Ph.D. (2003) in Chemistry of lichens from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal). Presently, she is working on Indian lichens for monitoring environmental pollution. Dr. Shukla has 10 years of post doctoral research experience in the field of lichenology and already completed two post doc fellowships awarded by Department of Science and Technology (DST, New Delhi) and till now she has published 41 scientific articles. Dr. Shukla contributed much on secondary metabolite chemistry, interaction of lichens with the environment, spatio-temporal behaviour of pollutants and role of lichens in bioremediation of atmospheric fallouts. Rajesh Bajpai is M.Sc. in Environmental Science and Ph.D. in 2009 from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow, is working as DST- Scientist in Lichenology Laboratory of CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow. Dr. Bajpai has published 20 research papers in various national and international journals on accumulation of different metals including arsenic. Dr. Bajpai has carried out extensive research work on the interaction of lichen with the environment and arsenic pollution, role of lichens in phytoremediation and biodeterioration. D.K. Upreti, Head of Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, is Ph.D. (1983) in Botany from Lucknow University under the guidance of Dr. D.D. Awasthi. Dr. Upreti has 30 years of research experience and has published more than 250 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and coauthored three books. Apart from taxonomy, Dr. Upreti has also carried out extensive research on ecology, lichen chemistry, pollution monitoring, in vitro culture and biodeterioration studies of Indian lichens. Dr. Upreti had been to Antarctica in 1991-1992 and is also the member of steering committee of CSIR for Antarctic Researches. He is the Indian corresponding member to British Lichen Society and International Association for Lichenology.