Cryptogams as bio-indicators for ecosystem monitoring in Sri Lanka: a comprehensive review and recommendations

Cryptogams, encompassing algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, and pteridophytes play essential roles in soil formation, nutrient cycling, and ecological stability. Sri Lanka faces numerous environmental challenges, including habitat loss, climate change, and pollution and there is an urgent need for effective monitoring programs to assess and mitigate these changes. This comprehensive review compiles existing literature on the importance of cryptogams and their responses to various environmental stressors and highlights the specific characteristics that make cryptogams valuable bio-indicators, such as their sensitivity to pollution, climate change, and land-use changes in habitats such as forests, agricultural lands, and urban areas, as well as their ability to accumulate and retain pollutants over time. The diversity of cryptogams is integral to their effectiveness as bio-indicators, providing a comprehensive picture of ecosystem health. Furthermore, recommendations for the development of monitoring programs are provided for different areas in the country. These recommendations include establishing baseline data for cryptogam diversity and abundance and incorporating the integration of modern molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding which are widely used in biodiversity monitoring programs to track the responses of cryptogams to environmental changes. This review seeks to emphasize the importance of cryptogams in ecosystem health assessment raising awareness among policymakers, researchers, and conservationists in Sri Lanka. Through the implementation of effective monitoring programs, we can enhance our understanding of local ecosystem dynamics, improve conservation efforts, and contribute to the sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s natural resources in the face of ongoing environmental changes.