Bibliography of Iranian Lichens

A comprehensive bibliography is essential to the scientific study of lichens for several key reasons:

1. Documenting Knowledge: Bibliographies serve as a cumulative record of published knowledge on lichen taxonomy, ecology, chemistry, physiology, and conservation. They help track the history and development of scientific thought and provide context for new research.
   
   

2. Avoiding Redundancy: By compiling existing literature, researchers can avoid repeating studies that have already been conducted, enabling more efficient use of time and resources.
   
   

3. Supporting Taxonomic Revisions: Accurate taxonomy relies heavily on earlier descriptions, type citations, and comparative studies. Bibliographies guide taxonomists to original species descriptions, revisions, and nomenclatural changes.
   
   

4. Facilitating Identification and Mapping: Bibliographic data assist in locating floristic, ecological, and distributional studies that are fundamental to identifying lichen species in specific regions.
   
   

5. Interdisciplinary Access: Many lichen studies intersect with fields like pharmacology, climate science, conservation biology, and cultural heritage. A bibliography provides a bridge for interdisciplinary research and application.
   
   

6. Building Reference Collections and Databases: Herbarium curators, conservation planners, and database developers use bibliographic resources to ensure accurate metadata, voucher information, and geographic coverage in specimen and digital collections.

A regional bibliography refers to the compilation of all relevant literature concerning lichen studies within a specific geographic area. This could be:

• Global (e.g., Bibliographia Lichenologica volumes)
  
  

• Continental (e.g., European lichen floras)
  
  

• National (e.g., Lichens of Iran, Checklist of British Lichens)
  
  

• Local or Biogeographic Region (e.g., lichens of the Scottish Highlands, Mediterranean Basin, or Arctic tundra)
  
  

The regional level helps:

• Focus on species distribution and endemism
  
  

• Highlight areas with rich or underexplored diversity
  
  

• Support conservation priorities in specific habitats
  
  

• Align with political or administrative boundaries for policy-making and land management
  
  

Regional bibliographies are particularly important for floristic studies, checklist preparation, Red List assessments, and biodiversity monitoring at local scales.