Assemblages of corticolous myxomycetes associated with species of Pinus (Pinaceae) in four different regions of the world

Abstract

Corticolous myxomycetes associated with four species of pine in different regions of the world were investigated. Samples of bark collected from 20 trees in each region were used to prepare 240 moist chamber cultures, which yielded 620 records of myxomycetes representing 34 species in 14 genera. Bark samples from shortleaf pine were the most productive, whereas bark samples from chir pine were the least productive. Analyses showed that bark characteristics and general weather/landscape variables had a minor effect on species richness and the number of records in each set. However, levels of metals in the bark and air temperature at the time of surveying may have been responsible for some of the taxonomic differences. All bark samples produced myxomycetes. Based on overall diversity, the datasets associated with both Caribbean and Monterrey pine were the least similar to those observed for other pine species, but some ecological variables showed extreme values in the geographical area where these bark samples were collected.