Does habitat loss affect tropical myxomycetes?
Fecha
2014-10-29
Tipo
artículo original
Autores
Rojas Alvarado, Carlos Alonso
Doss, Robin G.
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Resumen
The effect of habitat loss on the dynamics of myxomycete assemblages has been poorly
studied thus far. For this reason, a premontane moist forest surrounded by human-created pastures
on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica was selected to carry out a pilot ecological evaluation using a
systematic approach. In the area of study, a series of forest zones representing a gradual continuum
of habitat variation was selected and characterized using structural forest parameters. Fruiting
bodies of myxomycetes were surveyed across these zones and microhabitat variables were
measured when fruiting bodies were found. Results indicated that species richness, species
diversity and the number of unique species recorded as fruiting bodies increased linearly from areas
without suitable habitat to areas with complete suitable habitats and such pattern was shown to be
correlated with canopy openness. Since the latter factor is clearly dissimilar across areas with
structural differences in the forest being studied, the results presented herein suggest that
myxomycetes are affected by the modification and loss of suitable habitats
Descripción
Palabras clave
border effect, forest fragmentation, myxogastrids, Neotropics, rainforest dynamics, 579.5 89 Hongos varios