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- Title
First records of Myxomycetes associated with members of the Cactaceae in Australia.
- Authors
Stephenson, Steven L.; Elliott, Todd F.
- Abstract
Context: Cacti are endemic to North and South America, but numerous species have been spread all over the world after Europeans visited the Americas. Their global spread has impacted various aspects of terrestrial ecosystems, including the distributions of succulenticolous myxomycetes. Aims: In this study, we examine the association of myxomycetes (also known as plasmodial slime moulds or myxogastrids) with three introduced species of cacti in Australia. Methods: Using the moist chamber culturing technique we prepared 33 cultures from dead portions of three species of cacti collected in New South Wales and Queensland. Key results: Eighty-eight percent of moist chamber cultures yielded evidence of myxomycetes (either plasmodia or fruiting bodies). A total of 12 species representing six genera were recorded. Physarum compressum was the most abundant species (appearing in 20 of the 33 cultures), with species such as Perichaena depressa also relatively common. We also report the first records of Perichaena luteola in Australia. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with members of the Cactaceae in Australia, and we highlight the occurrence of succulenticolous myxomycetes on the continent. Implications: This study leads to a better understanding of the biogeography, distribution and ecology of succulenticolous myxomycetes. We also add a new species record for Australia. Slime moulds are a unique group of fungus-like Amoebozoans that feed on bacteria and other microorganisms. Some slime moulds appear to be restricted largely to succulent plants, and we provide herein the first data on those species associated with invasive cacti in Australia. We report 12 species on members of the cactus family in Australia and provide data on the similarities between the assemblages of succulent-associated slime moulds in Australia and those in other regions of the world where cacti are native.
- Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2022, Vol 70, Issue 8, p531
- ISSN
0067-1924
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/BT22032