Study of lichen species growing in the “eastern part” of Kazakh small mountain hills

Abstract

The rapid development of industry at the present stage, the accumulation of harmful waste, and the emergence of large settlements—all these anthropogenic factors cause climate change around the world. In this regard, it is known that a decrease in atmospheric moisture has a significant impact on the expansion of desert areas. The above-mentioned global changes directly affect living organisms on Earth and alter the species composition of both flora and fauna. Therefore, scientists must pay special attention to the natural changes occurring in local flora. In this study, lichens were chosen as the object of research, as they form an essential part of the local flora, inhabit various biomes, and are resistant to climatic changes due to their structural features. In recent years, scientific publications on the plant flora of Kazakhstan have included lichenological studies providing data on the biological characteristics, ecology, and indicator value of species growing in specific regions. However, there are no dedicated studies covering the lichen species found in the flora of the Chingistau, Kalbatau, Kokentau, and Abraly mountains, which belong to the eastern part of the Kazakh Small Hills. In the present study, a comparative analysis of the species composition was carried out, since the mountain ranges collectively known as the Small Hills of the East are located far from each other. As a result, 11 species belonging to 5 genera and grouped into 6 families were identified as growing across all these hills.