Secretive slime moulds : myxomycetes of Australia

Neither plants, nor animals, nor fungi, the myxomycetes are a surprisingly diverse and fascinating group of organisms. They spend the majority of their life out of sight as single-celled amoeboid individuals in leaf litter, soil or decaying wood, foraging for bacteria and other simple life forms. However, when conditions are right, two individual cells come together to give rise to a much larger, creeping structure called a plasmodium, which produces even more complex and often beautiful fruiting bodies. Indeed, the fruiting bodies of myxomycetes are often miniature works of art! Their small size (usually only a few millimetres tall) and fleeting fruiting phase mean that these organisms, although ubiquitous and sometimes abundant, are overlooked by most people. However, recent research by a few dedicated individuals has shown that Australia has a very diverse myxomycete biota with more than 330 species, the largest number known for any region of the Southern Hemisphere. This comprehensive monograph provides keys, descriptions and information on the known distribution for all of these species in addition to containing introductory material relating to their biology and ecology. Many species are illustrated, showing the diversity of their fruiting bodies, and greatly facilitating their identification. This book will give naturalists a new insight into an often overlooked group of organisms in addition to providing an incentive to search for the many species which have undoubtedly thus far escaped notice. Features: Provides a comprehensive synthesis of knowledge on Australia's myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) Features beautiful illustrations and stunning macrophotographs Cover Title Copyright Contents Author, Illustrators and Photographers Introduction Classification of the Myxomycetes Historical Background in Australia Life Cycle Structure of the Fruiting Body Collecting and Studying Myxomycetes Scope of this Monograph Distribution, Ecology and Importance Microhabitats for Myxomycetes General Patterns of Distribution Spatial Distribution Patterns Substrate pH Interactions of Myxomycetes with Other Organisms Myxomycete–Human Relationships Phylum Eumycetozoa Class Ceratiomycetes Order Ceratiomyxales Family Ceratiomyxaceae Ceratiomyxa Class Myxomycetes Subclass Lucisporomycetidae Superorder Cribrariidia Order Cribrariales Family Cribrariaceae Cribraria Lindbladia Superorder Trichiidia Order Liceales Family Liceaceae Licea Order Reticulariales Family Reticulariaceae Alwisia Lycogala Reticularia Tubifera Order Trichiales Family Dianemataceae Calomyxa Dianema Dictydiaethalium Prototrichia Family Trichiaceae Arcyria Hemitrichia Metatrichia Minakatella Oligonema Perichaena Trichia Subclass Columellomycetidae Superorder Echinostellidia Order Echinosteliales Family Echinosteliaceae Echinostelium Superorder Stemonitidia Order Clastodermatales Family Clastodermataceae Clastoderma Order Meridermatales Family Meridermataceae Meriderma Order Physarales Family Didymiaceae Diachea Diderma Didymium Lepidoderma Mucilago Family Physaraceae Badhamia Badhamiopsis Craterium Fuligo Leocarpus Physarella Physarum Protophysarum Willkommlangea Family Lamprodermataceae Collaria Colloderma Elaeomyxa Lamproderma Paradiachea Order Stemonitidales Family Amaurochaetaceae Amaurochaeta Comatricha Enerthenema Paradiacheopsis Stemonaria Stemonitopsis Family Stemonitidaceae Macbrideola Stemonitis Symphytocarpus References Acknowledgements Scientific Name Index