Myrzakhan, A., Rakhimova, Y., Evdokimov, I., Kyzmetova, L., & Assylbek, A. (2026). Impact of substrate diversity on lichen species structure in Central Kazakhstan. Agrobiological Records, 26, 69-80. https://doi.org/10.47278/journal.abr/2026.084

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The Betpak-Dala floristic region of Kazakhstan includes the Betpak-Dala clay desert, the deserts of the northern shore of Lake Balkhash, and the low hills of the western shore of Lake Balkhash. This region is the most sparsely populated and least studied. Our research aimed to review all available data and compile an up-to-date list of lichenobiota species in the Betpak-Dala floristic region, based on specimens from the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction, the authors' own collections, the iNaturalist database, and other accessible sources. We collected lichen samples within the Betpak-Dala floristic region in 2024. We compiled an annotated list of lichenobiota species from the floristic region, including 115 species from 54 genera, 19 families, 12 orders, and 3 classes. Forty-two species are reported for this territory for the first time. The largest genus, Acarospora, includes 11 species (10% of the total); Lecanora, 9 species (8%); Circinaria, 8 species (7%); Physcia, 6 species (5%); and Aspicilia, 6 species (5%). Three genera are represented by 4 species each, three by 3 species, 11 genera by 2 species, and 32 genera by one species each. Most identified lichen species are associated with rock outcrops (70 species, 56% of the total), soil (22 species, 18%), and crushed stones (17 species, 13%). Two species (1%) were observed on mosses. Three species (2%) were found on the bark of branches of Artemisia sp., Oreosalsola laricifolia, and Salsola sp.; six species (5%) were found on plant debris. Two species (1%) occur on fragments of old slate, and two can exist as free-living forms. The species Acarospora stapfiana develops on another lichen, Golubkovia trachyphylla. The most widespread forms in the studied area are crustose areolate and narrow-lobed foliose lichens. This study significantly expands knowledge of Central Asian desert lichenobiota by providing a thorough, integrative evaluation of lichen diversity and substrate specificity across the Betpak-Dala floristic region. The discovery of new species in the area emphasizes the importance of systematic surveys in understudied deserts and highlights the underappreciated biodiversity of arid landscapes. For future research, these results provide a crucial baseline for biogeographical, ecological, and conservation-focused studies in Kazakhstan's desert ecosystems. The research is valuable for documenting lichen diversity in the Betpak-Dala floristic region.