Additions to the myxobiota of Central America

Abstract

Given the fact that until recently the myxomycetes were an understudied group in Central America, it is not surprising that the number of new records for most countries is currently increasing at a steady pace. This is significant in light of the fact that Central America is located within the Mesoamerican Biodiversity Hotspot and is projected to lose an appreciable percentage of its biodiversity due to global phenomena before the middle of this century. In the present study, which was conceived as an approach to equilibrate the information on myxomycetes among Central American countries, 23 unlisted records for Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica are provided. In particular, a record of the myxomycete Cornuvia serpula from the last country is noteworthy due its rarity in tropical areas of the world. The type of regional distributional information presented in this study represents baseline data for ecological monitoring purposes, which are essential for the conservation of the microbial biota and ecosystem functioning worldwide.