Abstract
The relationship between myxomycete species and the decay stage of wood of Pinus densiflora coarse woody debris was investigated in warm temperate secondary forests of western Japan. The number of species and species diversity of the myxomycete community reached the maximum on moderately decayed wood. The 25 dominant species recorded from 8 or more samples of the total 1530 samples were arranged in order of the succession index corresponding to the stage of decay. Species on slightly decayed hard pine wood were characterized by Stemonitis splendens, Enerthenema papillatum, and Physarum viride, whereas species of Cribrariaceae were found on brittle decayed soft wood increasing abundance according to the decay stages. Most of the species occurred where there was sufficient moisture preserved in the environment of the decaying wood, although S. splendens specifically emerged in low-moisture environments. Because the myxomycete species had preference to different decay stages of wood, it appears that they change sequentially during myxomycete community succession on dead pine wood according to the progression of decay.
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Takahashi, K., Hada, Y. Distribution of Myxomycetes on coarse woody debris of Pinus densiflora at different decay stages in secondary forests of western Japan. Mycoscience 50, 253–260 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10267-008-0479-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10267-008-0479-4