Brief research history and status of myxomycete conservation in the Neotropics

Abstract

As it is the case of most disciplines, biological groups and regions in the world; the historical path of research on myxomycetes in the Neotropical region has been written on the basis of a series of milestones, iconic researchers and emblematic pieces of work. In this short review, a highlight-based version of such history is provided by focusing on the effort carried out in different countries within the region. Due to historical and logistic limitations, the picture explaining the biogeography and ecological dynamics of myxomycetes for the Neotropics is still very incomplete. As such, it has been difficult to incorporate myxomycetes in the conservation agenda of organizations in the region. In spite of the latter, modern research techniques seem to represent the tool to bring our knowledge on myxomycete biology to a level of complex analysis over the environmental interactions of the group