Biodiversity and Conservation

, Volume 17, Issue 2, pp 285–301 | Cite as

Myxomycete diversity and distribution from the fossil record to the present

  • Steven L. Stephenson
  • Martin Schnittler
  • Yuri K. Novozhilov
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) are a group of eukaryotic microorganisms usually present and sometimes abundant in terrestrial ecosystems. Evidence from molecular studies suggests that the myxomycetes have a significant evolutionary history. However, due to the fragile nature of the fruiting body, fossil records of the group are exceedingly rare. Although most myxomycetes are thought to have very large distributional ranges and many species appear to be cosmopolitan or nearly so, results from recent studies have provided evidence that spatial distribution patterns of these organisms can be successfully related to (1) differences in climate and/or vegetation on a global scale and (2) the ecological differences that exist for particular habitats on a local scale. A detailed examination of the global distribution of four examples (Barbeyella minutissima, Ceratiomyxa morchella, Leocarpus fragilis and Protophysarum phloiogenum) demonstrates that these species have recognizable distribution patterns in spite of the theoretical ability of their spores to bridge continents.

Keywords

Distribution patterns Ecology Long-distance dispersal Microorganisms Slime molds 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

A major part of the specimen digitalization work which formed the basis for the distribution maps presented in this paper was carried out within a grant of the seed money program of GBIF International, coordinated by the second author. Another grant funded in the context of the Global Biodiversity of Eumycetozoans project (DEB-0316284) from the US National Science Foundation added data especially for the American continent. Appreciation is extended to many of our colleagues for providing additional information on records of particular species. Among these are G. Adamonité (Lithuania), U. Eliasson (Sweden), A. Estrada-Torrez (Mexico), A. Koshelova (Russia), C. Lado (Spain), R. McHugh (Ireland), M. Meyer (France), D. Wrigley de Basanta (Spain) and I. Zemlianskaya (Russia). We also wish to thank John Shadwick for helping produce the distribution maps of the four species.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Steven L. Stephenson
    • 1
  • Martin Schnittler
    • 2
  • Yuri K. Novozhilov
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ArkansasFayettevilleUSA
  2. 2.Institute of Botany and Landscape EcologyErnst Moritz Arndt University GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
  3. 3.V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of SciencesSt. PetersburgRussia

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