> Sydowia 77
> Sydowia 76
> Sydowia 75
> Sydowia 74
> Sydowia 73
> Sydowia 72
> Sydowia 71
> Sydowia 70
> Sydowia 69
> Sydowia 68
> Sydowia 67
> Sydowia 66 (2)
> Sydowia 66 (1)
> Sydowia 65 (2)
> Sydowia 65 (1)
> Sydowia 64 (2)
> Sydowia 64 (1)
> Sydowia 63 (2)
> Sydowia 63 (1)
> Sydowia 62 (2)
> Sydowia 62 (1)
> Sydowia 61 (2)
> Sydowia 61 (1)
> Sydowia 60 (2)
> Sydowia 60 (1)
> Sydowia 59 (2)
> Sydowia 59 (1)
> Sydowia 58 (2)
> Sydowia 58 (1)
> Sydowia 57 (2)
> Sydowia 57 (1)

Distribution and ecology of myxomycetes in desert ecosystems

Steven Lee Stephenson, Fuad Ameen & Ahmed Al-Sabri

Sydowia 70: 89-97

Published online on May 2nd, 2018

Since myxomycetes (also called plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) are almost invariably associated with relatively moist conditions, one might not expect these organisms to occur in deserts. However, the number of species reported from those desert regions investigated to date is surprisingly high. Although the lack of moisture in desert environments undoubtedly places severe constraints on the growth and development of myxomycetes, there are several types of special microhabitats that retain moisture long enough to support these organisms. Moreover, myxomycetes appear to have evolved several different ecological strategies to reproduce successfully under what are often exceedingly dry conditions.

Keywords: biodiversity, microhabitats, slime molds, xeric environments.

eBook at Verlag Berger