Abstract To identify potentially suitable areas for the mostly alpine ecological guild of nivicolous (snowbank) myxomycetes, the worldwide distribution of a distinct morphospecies, Physarum albescens, was modelled with a correlative... more
Abstract To identify potentially suitable areas for the mostly alpine ecological guild of nivicolous (snowbank) myxomycetes, the worldwide distribution of a distinct morphospecies, Physarum albescens, was modelled with a correlative spatial approach using the software MaxEnt from 537 unique occurrence points. Three models were developed, first with only the 19 bioclimatic variables plus elevation from the WorldClim database, second with regularization to correct for pseudo-absence, and third with additional categorical environmental layer on snow cover. All three models showed high mean AUC (area under the curve) values (>0.970). Output maps were comparable, with the third model perhaps the most realistic. For this model, snow cover, precipitation of the coldest quarter (of the year), and elevation predicted best the distribution of Ph. albescens. Elevation alone is a good predictor only in some regions, since (i) elevation of the occurrence points decreases with increasing latitude, and (ii) elevation wrongly predicts the species’ occurrence in arid mountain ranges. The model showed mountains in humid climates with highest incidence, which confirmed field studies: a long-lasting snow cover fluctuating with comparatively mild summers is the decisive factor. As such, the model can serve as a predictive map where fructifications of nivicolous myxomycetes can be expected. Limitations of the model are discussed: cryptic speciation within a morphospecies, including the evolution of reproductively isolated units which may lead to local adaptation and niche differentiation, and wider ranges for myxamoebal populations.
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A systematic survey for myxomycetes was carried out in 2011–2014 and 2017 at 106 localities in mountain tropical forests of Bidoup Nui Ba and Chu Yang Sin national parks (Dalat Plateau, southern Vietnam). In total, the survey yielded 652... more
A systematic survey for myxomycetes was carried out in 2011–2014 and 2017 at 106 localities in mountain tropical forests of Bidoup Nui Ba and Chu Yang Sin national parks (Dalat Plateau, southern Vietnam). In total, the survey yielded 652 records, of which 358 were field collections and 294 were collections obtained from 819 moist chamber cultures prepared with samples taken from the bark surface of living trees, ground and aerial litter and coarse woody debris. Determinations resulted in 105 taxa from 28 genera and 10 families. More than half (61) of all taxa were classified as rare. One collection of Badhamia could not be clearly assigned to any described species. Forty-two taxa were recorded for the first time for Vietnam and all were new for both national parks. The number of recorded taxa, increasing in a near-linear fashion with the number of field seasons, since sporulation activity of different species varies from year to year. Among the four natural vegetation types: middle ...
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Background and aims – Recent studies showed the position of two slime mould species with microscopic sporocarps, Echinosteliopsis oligospora and Echinostelium bisporum, within the class Myxomycetes. These minute species are seldom seen in... more
Background and aims – Recent studies showed the position of two slime mould species with microscopic sporocarps, Echinosteliopsis oligospora and Echinostelium bisporum, within the class Myxomycetes. These minute species are seldom seen in studies based on detection of sporocarps and can easily be confused with protosteloid amoebozoans.Methods – We searched all published ePCR data sets that targeted myxomycete 18S rDNA for the presence of environmental sequences similar to E. oligospora and Echinosteliales in traditional circumscription, and performed phylogenetic analyses that included short environmental sequences and full-length 18S rDNA sequences representing all the major groups of myxomycetes.Key results – We report 19 unique sequences which are closely related to E. bisporum or E. oligospora based on sequence similarity (73.1–95.2% similarity) and which form well-supported monophyletic clades with these species in phylogenetic analyses. They may represent new species that are ...
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The ultrastructure of zoospores of the myxogastrids Symphytocarpus impexus B. Ing et Nann. Bremek. (Stemoniida), Arcyria cinerea (Bull.) Pers. (Trichiida), and Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fr. (Liceida) is reported for the first time, with... more
The ultrastructure of zoospores of the myxogastrids Symphytocarpus impexus B. Ing et Nann. Bremek. (Stemoniida), Arcyria cinerea (Bull.) Pers. (Trichiida), and Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fr. (Liceida) is reported for the first time, with special reference to flagellar apparatus. The cytoskeleton in all three species includes microtubular and fibrillar rootlets arising from both basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. There is a similarity in the presence and position of the rootlets N1 5 between our species and other studied species of myxogastrids and protostelids. Thus, general conservatism of cytoskeletal characters and homology among eumycetozoa have been confirmed for these taxa. At the same time there is variation in the details of flagellar rootlets’ structure in different orders and genera. The differences concern the shape of short striated fibre (SSF) which is an organizing structure for microtubular rootlets r2, r3 and r4. Its upper strand is more prominent in L. epidendru...
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Seventeen Licea species found in Kedrovaya Pad State Biosphere Nature Reserve (Russian Far East, Primorsky Krai) are described and illustrated, including rare species: L. atricapilla, L. craterioides, L. poculiformis, and L. pseudoconica,... more
Seventeen Licea species found in Kedrovaya Pad State Biosphere Nature Reserve (Russian Far East, Primorsky Krai) are described and illustrated, including rare species: L. atricapilla, L. craterioides, L. poculiformis, and L. pseudoconica, and two species new for science: L. mariae and L. synchrysospora. Descriptions of the new species are accompanied by LM and SEM microphotographs, which illustrate their main distinguishing features. Some morphological similarity between the species of the genus Licea (L. atricapilla, L. metallica and L. iridescens) with the iridescent peridium is discussed. Some comments on the differentiation between L. pusilla and L. pygmaea are made and data on the intermediate forms between these species are given.
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The myxomycetes associated with samples of the bark of living trees, ground litter, twigs, and aerial litter collected from a residential ecosystem were investigated with the use of moist chamber cultures. A total of 26 species... more
The myxomycetes associated with samples of the bark of living trees, ground litter, twigs, and aerial litter collected from a residential ecosystem were investigated with the use of moist chamber cultures. A total of 26 species representing 13 genera were recovered from 100 cultures prepared with samples of the four different types of substrates. The distribution patterns and ecology of these species are discussed in the context of the senior coauthor’s more than 40 years studying myxomycetes.
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We present a workflow for efficient barcoding of myxomycete fructifications, which (i) requires less than 1000 spores, (ii) allows to collect spores with only a needle, (iii) works without any commercial kits, and (iv) is optimized for... more
We present a workflow for efficient barcoding of myxomycete fructifications, which (i) requires less than 1000 spores, (ii) allows to collect spores with only a needle, (iii) works without any commercial kits, and (iv) is optimized for the use of 96-well PCR plates throughout the process. Specimens of 291 dark-spored nivicolous myxomycetes and 121 bright-spored members of the Trichiaceae were sequenced for the barcode marker 18S rDNA (SSU) with a low rate of failure and no detectable cross-contamination. Crude DNA extracts can be stored for further analyses: the elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF1A), a single-copy marker, was successfully amplified after four weeks of storage.As such our procedure will allow a time- and cost-efficient barcoding of large series of specimens.
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Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке РФФИ (проект 13–04–00839_а) с использованием микроскопического оборудования Центра коллективного пользования БИН РАН.
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Abstract This chapter discusses the adaptations of myxomycetes relating to spore dispersal, which is the key to understand distribution patterns in this group of protists. Several groups of protists form spores—small, spherical, durable... more
Abstract This chapter discusses the adaptations of myxomycetes relating to spore dispersal, which is the key to understand distribution patterns in this group of protists. Several groups of protists form spores—small, spherical, durable cells released from fruiting bodies. Judged by the number of species, myxomycetes are the most successful group. Fruiting bodies in myxomycetes are primarily stalked to allow spores to dry out and become airborne. Compound fruiting bodies are a second evolutionary tendency to achieve spore release by means of animal vectors and appear parallel in several taxa. Since fruiting bodies are formed only under optimum conditions, species may have larger distribution ranges than indicated by fruiting bodies. In contrast, many morphospecies may be complexes of cryptic species, and these may have narrower ecological niches and thus narrower distribution ranges. In addition, molecular studies of widely distributed morphospecies provide evidence for limited gene flow within regional populations. As such, myxomycetes seem to follow the moderate endemicity model more than the ubiquist model of microbial distribution. Molecular investigations, such as barcoding, provide novel tools to differentiate species and may link the two separate species concepts in the group, the morpho- and the biospecies concept. Most likely, the number of described myxomycete morphospecies will increase steadily. Although field studies in myxomycetes have been carried out for more than 200 years, survey intensity is still very different for different regions of the world and for the methods used (direct observations versus moist chamber cultures). The existing data indicate that species diversity patterns in myxomycetes do not follow the “decreasing latitude—increasing diversity” trend that holds true for macroscopic organisms, with an apparent hot spot in southern temperate zones, especially broadleaved deciduous forests. The surprisingly distinct and diverse assemblages of myxomycetes in deserts point to precipitation as one of the major factors to explain these patterns.
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The use of molecular biology methods for identifying species of fungi and myxomycetes (DNA barcoding) has shown the necessity of reconsidering our views on the ecology and habitats of many species of spore organisms. Spores of... more
The use of molecular biology methods for identifying species of fungi and myxomycetes (DNA barcoding) has shown the necessity of reconsidering our views on the ecology and habitats of many species of spore organisms. Spores of basidiomycetes and myxomycetes can spread over considerable distances by water, wind, and insects, resulting in their resettlement to various distant habitats, where the only limiting factors are microenvironment and suitable substrates. The possibility of inhabiting various “island” habitats, for example, such as large tree debris in steppe regions or special microclimatic conditions on the bottoms of ravines and gullies in the forest steppe, where the humidity is much higher than on the plain areas, allows spore organisms to expand their habitats and settle in natural areas that are not typical for them. Our original research, an analysis of literature sources, and GenBank data have shown that, when studying the ecology and distribution patterns of spore-like organisms, issues of correctly identifying species are quiet questionable. This article discusses examples using the influence of the hypothesis Everything is everywhere, but, the environment selects (EiE hypothesis) on understanding the ecology and ranges of some species of myxomycetes and basidiomycetes. Data on the distribution and ecology of nivicolous myxomycetes Lamproderma pseudomaculatum on the plain territory of Western Siberia are presented for the first time. Using the myxomycetes Arcyria imperialis and A. stipata, as well as fungi Disciseda hyalothrix and Pleurotus pulmonarius, we envisage the possibility of a DNA barcoding application for studies of the species diversity of spore organisms and the morphological differentiation of similar species and for correctly interpreting their ranges and ecology. rDNA sequences have been studied for all these species; for myxomycetes, photos have been taken on a scanning electron microscope.
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First records of aphyllophoroid fungi for the Novgorod Region, myxomycetes for the Volgograd and Novosibirsk regions and Altai Territory, rust fungi for the Trans-Baikal Territory, lichens for the Tver and Moscow regions, lichenicolous... more
First records of aphyllophoroid fungi for the Novgorod Region, myxomycetes for the Volgograd and Novosibirsk regions and Altai Territory, rust fungi for the Trans-Baikal Territory, lichens for the Tver and Moscow regions, lichenicolous fungus for Russia and the Republic of Dagestan, mosses for the Republic of Buryatia and data on their localities, habitats, distribution are provided.
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Biodiversity and number of airborne fungi isolated from indoor and outdoor air of different location in the areas of arctic settlement Tiksi (Russian Arctic) are described. Different locations (coastal areas, landscape, streets of Tiksi,... more
Biodiversity and number of airborne fungi isolated from indoor and outdoor air of different location in the areas of arctic settlement Tiksi (Russian Arctic) are described. Different locations (coastal areas, landscape, streets of Tiksi, abandoned empty houses, flats, public buildings) were observed. Aeromycota characterized by a significant biodiversity (50 species), but only several species were abundant. Airborne fungal spores concentration (CFU) in Tiksi locations was found low. The maximum spore concentrations were observed in air of the abandoned empty houses (inhabited in the past). Many species common for soil were observed at the samples taken at streets and abandoned buildings. Most of them are also known as inhabitants of building materials. Microfungi CFU at settlement territory was twice as high as natural territory. Phospholipase, albuminase and hemolytic activities of microfungi isolates as well as their relation to temperature were studied. Most of the tested isolate...
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Among soil-inhabiting protists, myxomycetes stand out by their macroscopic fructifications which have allowed studies on their ecology and distribution for more than two hundred years. One of the most distinct ecological guilds in... more
Among soil-inhabiting protists, myxomycetes stand out by their macroscopic fructifications which have allowed studies on their ecology and distribution for more than two hundred years. One of the most distinct ecological guilds in myxomycetes are the nivicolous or “snowbank” myxomycete species, which produce fruit bodies at the edge of melting snowbanks in spring. Relationship between the occurrence of fructifications and myxamoebae remain unknown. In this study we used modern molecular techniques, by direct DNA amplification from soil extracts (NGS metabarcoding) to compare the distribution of soil-inhabiting myxamoebae found in 2016 with fructifications from the same sites collected over the course of four years (2013, 2015–17) along an elevational transect in the northern German Alps. A coherent community composition between fructification and soil myxamoebae, though with species-specific differences in relative abundance, was revealed. Although patterns varied among species, myx...
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Check-list of 56 species from 46 genera of hyphomycetes is given. Studied material was collected in Southern Vietnam in 2010—2013. Hyphomycete Pyricularia contorta recently had been described from this territory and recently had been... more
Check-list of 56 species from 46 genera of hyphomycetes is given. Studied material was collected in Southern Vietnam in 2010—2013. Hyphomycete Pyricularia contorta recently had been described from this territory and recently had been confirmed by fresh material. 9 species of hyphomycetes refer to rare fungi, their records are new for Vietnamese mycobiota
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The traditional classification of the Myxomycetes (Myxogastrea) into five orders (Echinosteliales, Liceales, Trichiales, Stemonitidales and Physarales), used in all monographs published since 1945, does not properly reflect evolutionary... more
The traditional classification of the Myxomycetes (Myxogastrea) into five orders (Echinosteliales, Liceales, Trichiales, Stemonitidales and Physarales), used in all monographs published since 1945, does not properly reflect evolutionary relationships within the group. Reviewing all published phylogenies for myxomycete subgroups together with a 18S rDNA phylogeny of the entire group serving as an illustration, we suggest a revised hierarchical classification, in which taxa of higher ranks are formally named according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. In addition, informal zoological names are provided. The exosporous genus Ceratiomyxa, together with some protosteloid amoebae, constitute the class Ceratiomyxomycetes. The class Myxomycetes is divided into a bright- and a dark-spored clade, now formally named as subclasses Lucisporomycetidae and Columellomycetidae, respectively. For bright-spored myxomycetes, four orders are proposed: Cribrariales (c...
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ABSTRACT Nivicolous myxomycete assemblages were surveyed on the northwest of the Greater Caucasian ridge in May-June 2010 and 2011 at a north facing transect between 1,700 and 2,920 m elevation of the summit Malaya Khatipara situated... more
ABSTRACT Nivicolous myxomycete assemblages were surveyed on the northwest of the Greater Caucasian ridge in May-June 2010 and 2011 at a north facing transect between 1,700 and 2,920 m elevation of the summit Malaya Khatipara situated within the Teberda State Biosphere Reserve. Morphological characters of 396 collections representing 45 taxa (39 species, 3 varieties, and 3 forms) of myxomycetes in 8 genera and 5 families were recorded. Many (13) taxa are classified as rare (a species represents <0.5 % of all records). Only seven species were found to be widely distributed (present in 50 % or more of the 17 studied localities). To confirm the assignment of specimens to morphospecies, we obtained independently from determination 145 partial sequences of the 18S SSU rRNA gene from 35 taxa of Lamproderma, Meriderma, Physarum and Diderma, which turned out to represent 58 genotypes. Most of the taxa represented by more than one sequence had several genotypes, with an average of 1.7 genotypes per taxon. Except for three taxonomically difficult groups of species, partial SSU sequences did well correspond with the respective morphospecies and where similar or identical to sequences of specimens from the European Alps, making this marker a good candidate for barcoding in myxomycetes. Species richness and diversity increased from subalpine crooked-stem birch forests (23 species, 2 varieties, H′ = 2.8, E = 0.88, D = 0.08) to alpine dwarf shrub communities (34 species and 2 varieties, 2 forms, H′ = 3.2, E = 0.89, D = 0.05) but decreased again for alpine meadows (27 species and 2 varieties, 2 forms, H′ = 3.1, E = 0.91, D = 0.06). Species richness and alpha-diversity reached maximum values for ground litter, whereas leaves and stems of living shrubs above ground harboured a more depauperate myxomycete assemblage.
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Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify... more
Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11 International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundament...
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Northern taiga forests and subalpine plant communities of the Laplandskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve (Kola Peninsula, Russia) were surveyed for myxomycetes. A total of 1675 specimens of myxomycete fruit bodies (sporocarps) were... more
Northern taiga forests and subalpine plant communities of the Laplandskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve (Kola Peninsula, Russia) were surveyed for myxomycetes. A total of 1675 specimens of myxomycete fruit bodies (sporocarps) were registered, among them 1584 records from field collections and 92 obtained from 210 moist chamber cultures of ground litter, bark of living trees, wood, and weathered dung of moose and willow ptarmigan. Most of 125 taxa (124 morphospecies and one variety) representing 34 genera were recorded only in the field (104 taxa from 32 genera), but some were exclusively obtained from moist chamber cultures (8 taxa from 5 genera). All of the recorded species are new for the Laplandskiy Reserve. Species numbers decreased among the four studied forest associations along the elevation and mositure gradient, and the Shannon index showed a similar trend: spruce forest (PICa; 84 taxa, H’=3.8), spruce-peat moss forest (PICb; 70, 3.5), dry spruce-pine forest (PIN; 62, 3.7)...
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Winter-cold arid regions of western Kazakhstan were surveyed for myxomycetes for a period of 20 years. A total of 3228 records belonging to 111 species from 31 genera and 10 families are provided in an annotated checklist. The checklist... more
Winter-cold arid regions of western Kazakhstan were surveyed for myxomycetes for a period of 20 years. A total of 3228 records belonging to 111 species from 31 genera and 10 families are provided in an annotated checklist. The checklist contains data on the localities, habitats, substrates, methods of collection and voucher numbers of specimens deposited in the mycological herbarium (LE) of the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Additionally the bibliographic references of the myxomycete species findings in the study area are given. Due to the very arid climate of the region, 2911 specimens (ca. 90%) were obtained from 1653 moist chamber cultures prepared with samples taken from bark of living plants, litter and the weathered dung of herbivorous animals. Only 317 specimens of myxomycetes were collected directly in the field, mostly in woody artificial plantations. The lowest species diversity was observed in habitats with halophytic vegetation, wher...
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ABSTRACT An inventory including data on abundance and microhabitats of myxomycetes is presented from a valley system of the Northern Ammergauer Alps with montane mixed fir forests. The area belongs to the northern Limestone Alps and is... more
ABSTRACT An inventory including data on abundance and microhabitats of myxomycetes is presented from a valley system of the Northern Ammergauer Alps with montane mixed fir forests. The area belongs to the northern Limestone Alps and is situated near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria (47°31'N, 10°24'E). During a two-week period in late October more than 6 km of narrow creek valleys were surveyed exhaustively. Sixty-five species of myxomycetes belonging to 27 genera were recorded and their microhabitats classified. For 40 species, found with fresh sporocarps, abundance estimations are added. A group of 11 species, found exclusively with fresh sporocarps and mostly in humid and cool environments, can be regarded as a late-autumn aspect. Previously considered as rare, some of them were found to be surprisingly common, providing evidence for a distinct late-autumn flora of montane but non-nivicolous myxomycetes. Some species (Barbeyella minutissima, Colloderma oculatum) have a remarkable preference for decorticated logs coated with unicellular algae which form gelatinous layers. Evidence for a stable association of these slime moulds with algae is presented.
Research Interests: Plant Biology and Biology
This paper reports a new Stemonitidaceae species, Stemonitis pseudoflavogenita, found in Krasnodar Territory and Novosibirsk Region of Russia. We provide morphological and molecular characterization of S. pseudoflavogenita and data on its... more
This paper reports a new Stemonitidaceae species, Stemonitis pseudoflavogenita, found in Krasnodar Territory and Novosibirsk Region of Russia. We provide morphological and molecular characterization of S. pseudoflavogenita and data on its distribution and habitat. Compared to other representatives of the genus Stemonitis, S. pseudoflavogenita and three other species of this genus (S. capillitionodosa, S. flavogenita, and S. sichuanensis) have thickening and widening of the column apex, which makes them a separate morphological group. However, the above three known species have warted and spinulose spore ornamentations, S. pseudoflavogenita shows complex ornamentation consisting of large warts and a few small warts irregularly scattered among the large ones and small indentations on the spore surface. Stemonitis capillitionodosa is a rare myxomycete. We found and retrieved the specimens of Stemonitis capillitionodosa from the Laplandskiy Biosphere Reserve (Murmansk Region, Russia), t...
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A new species Comatricha spinispora Novozh. et D. W. Mitch. was obtained as field collections and isolated from moist-chamber cultures from samples of ground litter. Specimens of sporocarps and substrates for moist chamber cultures were... more
A new species Comatricha spinispora Novozh. et D. W. Mitch. was obtained as field collections and isolated from moist-chamber cultures from samples of ground litter. Specimens of sporocarps and substrates for moist chamber cultures were collected in deciduous monsoon tropical lowland forests (Cat Tien National Park, Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve), mixed montane tropical forests and cloudy tropical forests (Bi Dup-Nui Ba Nature Reserve) of southern Vietnam during surveys carried out in December 2010, November 2011, 2012. The morphology of representative specimens of sporocarps was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy and micrographs of relevant details are provided. Spore ornamentation consists of long spines 0.5–0.8 μm long and 6–8 very small additional spines 0.1–0.3 μm long densely distributed over the top part of spine surface and visible only by SEM. The stability of the taxonomic characters of the species was confirmed by several collections obtained over a period of th...
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Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms (protists) play a key role in soil food webs as major predators of microorganisms. However, due to the polyphyletic nature of protists, no single universal barcode can be established for this group, and... more
Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms (protists) play a key role in soil food webs as major predators of microorganisms. However, due to the polyphyletic nature of protists, no single universal barcode can be established for this group, and the structure of many protistean communities remains unresolved. Plasmodial slime moulds (Myxogastria or Myxomycetes) stand out among protists by their formation of fruit bodies, which allow for a morphological species concept. By Sanger sequencing of a large collection of morphospecies, this study presents the largest database to date of dark-spored myxomycetes and evaluate a partial 18S SSU gene marker for species annotation. We identify and discuss the use of an intraspecific sequence similarity threshold of 99.1% for species differentiation (OTU picking) in environmental PCR studies (ePCR) and estimate a hidden diversity of putative species, exceeding those of described morphospecies by 99%. When applying the identified threshold to an ePCR data ...
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Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds, Amoebozoa) are often perceived as widely distributed, confounding to the "everything is everywhere" hypothesis. To test if gene flow within these spore-dispersed protists is restricted by... more
Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds, Amoebozoa) are often perceived as widely distributed, confounding to the "everything is everywhere" hypothesis. To test if gene flow within these spore-dispersed protists is restricted by geographical barriers, we chose the widespread but morphologically unmistakable species Hemitrichia serpula for a phylogeographic study. Partial sequences from nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (SSU) revealed 40 ribotypes among 135 specimens, belonging to three major clades. Each clade is dominated by specimens from a certain region and by one of two morphological varieties which can be differentiated by SEM micrographs. Partial sequences of the protein elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1A) showed each clade to possess a unique combination of SSU and EF1A genotypes. This pattern is best explained assuming the existence of several putative biospecies dominating in a particular geographical region. However, occasional mismatches between molecular data and morpholog...
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Specimens of the snowbank myxomycete Meriderma atrosporum agg. from five European mountain ranges were sequenced for parts of the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) and the protein elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF1A). A... more
Specimens of the snowbank myxomycete Meriderma atrosporum agg. from five European mountain ranges were sequenced for parts of the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) and the protein elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF1A). A phylogeny of the EF1A gene, including a very variable spliceosomal intron, resulted in seven phylogroups, and this topology was confirmed by SSU sequences. Two thirds of all specimens were heterozygous for the EF1A gene, and the two haplotypes of these specimens occurred always in the same phylogroup. Except for two cases in closely related phylogroups all ribotypes were as well limited to one phylogroup. This pattern is consistent with the assumption of reproductively isolated sexual biospecies. Numbers of EF1A-haplotypes shared between mountain ranges correlate with geographical distance, suggesting relative isolation but occasional long-distance dispersal by spores. Most subpopulations (divided by putative biospecies and mountain ranges) were in Hard...