New species of small dictyostelids from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract

Ten new species of small dictyostelids, five belonging to Acytostelium (A. anastomosans, A. longisorophorum, A. magnisorum, A. serpentarium and A. singulare) and five to Dictyostelium (D. amphisporum, D. naviculare, D. oculare, D. potamoides and D. stellatum), were isolated from forest soils in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These species were recovered mostly from acidic soils and at higher elevations. They represent a large group of dictyostelids of small stature (<2 mm total height) on which we are beginning to accumulate more information.

• Acytostelium
• Dictyostelium
• forest soils
• southern Appalachians
• taxonomy

This study was financially supported in part by grants from the Discover Life in America Foundation, the Shepherd College Foundation and the West Virginia NASA Space Grant Consortium. Ian Stocks, Chuck Parker, Randy Darrah and Jeanie Hilten helped with the sampling, and Nancy Critzer assisted in laboratory isolation procedures. Appreciation is extended to Mark Garland for preparing the Latin diagnoses.