A new technique for sampling protostelids

Abstract

A new technique has been designed to collect protostelids repeatedly on a standardized substrate that has been introduced into a habitat known to contain an assemblage of species of protostelids. Four species of protostelids were detected after 1 week of placing sterilized wheat straw into a leaf litter habitat. After 8 weeks, a total of eight species were found. All of these species were also present on samples of litter taken from the same site. Moreover, at least one species of protostelid fruited on 75 of the 80 straws examined. The most common species detected were Nematostelium ovatum, N. gracile, and Schizoplasmodiopsis pseudoendospora. These species also appear most frequently when plating leaf litter from this site. This technique has potential use in the study of protostelid ecology.

Key Words:

• ecology
• mycetozoa
• slime mold