Distribution and Ecology of Myxomycetes in Temperate Forests. II. Patterns of Occurrence on Bark Surface of Living Trees, Leaf Litter, and Dung

ABSTRACT

The moist chamber culture technique was used to study myxomycete communities associated with bark surface of living trees, leaf litter, and dung in upland forests of southwestern Virginia. Patterns of species composition and species diversity were analyzed for each different microhabitat. Results indicate that most species of myxomycetes exhibit differential patterns of distribution with respect to various types of microhabitats potentially available to them and that these differences are related to the microenvironmental variation that exists both within and among these microhabitats. Compositional differences that exist for myxomycete communities occurring on the bark surfaces of different species of trees appear to be related to differences in bark acidity and texture.

Key Words:

• myxomycetes
• ecology
• distribution patterns
• Virginia