|
Algae occur both in soil and in water bodies, but
are relatively under-studied in Armenia. In total, 143
species of algae are recorded from soil or other substrates,
mainly including green, yellow-green and blue-green
algae, and bacillariophyta (Table 2.2).
Numbers of genera and species of different groups of
soil algae in Armenia
Group
|
Genera
|
Species
|
Widely
distributed species characteristic of Armenia
|
| Cyanophyta |
27 |
71 |
Gloeocapsa minuta, Merismopodia glauca, Microcystis
pulverea, Anabaena variabilis, Oscillatoria brevis,
Phormidium autumnale |
| Bacillariophyta |
15 |
38 |
Cymbella parva, Diatoma vulgare, Fragilaria pinnata,
Navicula dicephala, Nitzschia amphibia, Pinnularia
borealis |
| Xanthophyta |
12 |
14 |
Botrydiopsis arhiza, Vaucheria pachyderma, Tribonema
elegans |
| Chlorophyta |
11 |
20 |
Chlamydomonas conferta, C. elliptica, Chlorococcum
humicola, Chlorella vulgaris, Ulothrix variabilis |
TOTAL
|
65
|
143
|
|
Fungi are well studied in Armenia, and around 4200
species and varieties have been described (Myxomycota
and Eumycota; Table 2.3). Research has established distribution
patterns for some fungi in the country. Fungi are sub-divided
into two main groups: micromycetes and macromycetes.
Table 2.3 Number
of genera and species of different groups of fungi described
from Armenia
Group
|
Subgroup
|
Genera
|
Species
|
| Myxomycota |
|
21
|
44
|
| Eumycota |
|
|
|
| |
Mastigomycotina |
8
|
125
|
| |
Zygomycotina |
23
|
140
|
| |
Ascomycotina |
227
|
960
|
| |
Basidiomycotina |
226
|
1144
|
| |
Deuteromycotina |
133
|
1753
|
TOTAL
|
|
658
|
4166
|
The diversity of macromycetes found in Armenia in relation
to different taxonomic levels
Class
|
Number
of taxa
|
Series
|
Families
|
Genera
|
Species/
Varietes/forms
|
| Pyrenomycetes |
|
|
|
|
| Discomycetes |
|
|
|
|
| Heterobasidiomycetes |
|
|
|
|
| Homobasidiomycetes |
|
|
|
|
| Gasteromycetes |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
29
|
89
|
349
|
1182
|
Lichens are a widespread group, with over 26,000 species
recorded worldwide from all major ecosystems (from deserts
to alpine tundra). However, lichens have not been particularly
well studied in Armenia, with most work conducted in
the Lake Sevan watershed. Around 300 species have been
described in Armenia (of which 190 are from the vicinity
of Lake Sevan). Most of the lichens described are of
a crust form (40%), which typically grow on rock. Other
described forms are foliate, fructate and umbilicate.
Lichens are found on a range of substrates including
rocks, trees, soil, moss and as parasites (Table 2.6).
Although lichens are not considered to be of economic
importance in Armenia, some species could be used as
a source of antibiotics and as environmental indicators
of air quality. Further work is needed to document lichens,
and to determine their conservation status, and appropriate
Red Data Book listings.
Mosses are relatively simple plants, with a wide distribution,
but generally associated with damp areas. Globally,
around 25,000 species of moss have been described, of
which 430 species have been recorded in Armenia, mainly
in mountain and forest habitats. Of these, around 108
species are considered to be rare (including: Dicranoweisia
intermedia, Orthotrichum urnaceum, Antitrichia curtipendula,
Pterogonium gracile, and Lindbergia brachyptera), but
are not currently included in the Red Data Book. Of
particular importance is the occurrence of Sphagnum
moss (a glacial relict) at four wetland sites.
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