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Myxomycete diversity and distribution from the fossil record to the present

  • Chapter
Protist Diversity and Geographical Distribution

Part of the book series: Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation ((TOBC,volume 8))

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.

Special Issue: Protist diversity and geographic distribution. Guest editor: W. Foissner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 72701, Fayetteville, AR, USA

    Steven L. Stephenson

  2. Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Grimmer Str. 88, 17487, Greifswald, Germany

    Martin Schnittler

  3. V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Popov St. 2, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Yuri K. Novozhilov

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  1. Steven L. Stephenson
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  2. Martin Schnittler
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  3. Yuri K. Novozhilov
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Correspondence to Martin Schnittler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Zoologie, Universität Salzburg, Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    W. Foissner

  2. Dept. Biologia Vegetal II, Universidad Complutense, Fac. Farmacia, Plaza de Ramony Cajal, 28040, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain

    David L. Hawksworth

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Stephenson, S.L., Schnittler, M., Novozhilov, Y.K. (2007). Myxomycete diversity and distribution from the fossil record to the present. In: Foissner, W., Hawksworth, D.L. (eds) Protist Diversity and Geographical Distribution. Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2801-3_5

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