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Certain species of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are regularly present with mosses, lichens, and algae. Corticolous myxomycetes were previously studied in the tree canopy, and observations suggested that species occurrence is patchy and species abundance may increase with the presence of bryophytes and lichens. The purpose of this study was to quantify the association of corticolous myxomycete species with percent cover of epiphytes and with bark characteristics, such as water absorption, bark thickness, and bark pH. Study sites were located in three temperate forests in the southeastern USA. The doubled rope climbing method was used to collect bark from trees and grapevines in a vertical transect up to 15 m above ground level. Moist chambers (374) were used to culture myxomycetes for 32 d. The percent cover of lichens, bryophytes, myxobacteria, and filamentous fungi were estimated in five 2 cm × 2 cm quadrats for 187 sample sites. Results showed no association between percent cover of epiphytes and myxomycetes. Bark pH was the major factor influencing the occurrence of corticolous myxomycete species, and the patchy distribution of myxomycetes was attributed to the small plasmodium characteristic of most corticolous species.

This study compares the occurrence and distribution of myxomycete species in the canopy of living trees and neighboring grapevines. Corticolous myxomycetes of three temperate forests in southeastern USA were studied on six tree species (30 trees) and grapevines (30 vines) to determine distribution and occurrence of myxomycete species relating to geographic location, host species, and bark pH. The double-rope climbing technique was used to access the canopy and sample bark up to 16.5 m. Bark samples were examined in 580 moist chamber cultures and 44 myxomycete species were identified representing 21 genera, averaging 3.0 +/- 2.1 species per sample site. Jaccard's coefficient determined community similarity between five individuals of six tree species, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis and Tsuga canadensis, and neighboring grapevines, Vitis aestivalis and V. vulpina. Vertical variation in species richness was significantly different only for Platanus occidentalis and might be attributable to flaking of bark with increasing height in the canopy. Tsuga canadensis and neighboring grapevines had greatest community similarity. Cribraria violacea was observed on all tree and grapevine species except T. canadensis and neighboring grapevines. Occurrence and species assemblages of myxomycetes were associated with bark pH, not geographic location. Bark of V. aestivalis (pH 4.5) was more acidic than neighboring T. canadensis (pH 4.1), compared to grapevines of the same species neighboring other tree species. Results indicated that most species are not regionally restricted, and although some myxomycetes are associated with a certain pH range, others develop on any substratum. Future research protocols for corticolous myxomycetes should emphasize sampling adequate amounts of substrata in a local region from different host species that have a wide range of bark pH, ensuring a representative sample of species for an entire region.

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This study compares the occurrence and distribution of myxomycete species in the canopy of living trees and neighboring grapevines. Corticolous myxomycetes of three temperate forests in southeastern USA were studied on six tree species (30 trees) and grapevines (30 vines) to determine distribution and occurrence of myxomycete species relating to geographic location, host species, and bark pH. The double-rope climbing technique was used to access the canopy and sample bark up to 16.5 m. Bark samples were examined in 580 moist chamber cultures and 44 myxomycete species were identified representing 21 genera, averaging 3.0 +/- 2.1 species per sample site. Jaccard's coefficient determined community similarity between five individuals of six tree species, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis and Tsuga canadensis, and neighboring grapevines, Vitis aestivalis and V. vulpina. Vertical variation in species richness was significantly different only for Platanus occidentalis and might be attributable to flaking of bark with increasing height in the canopy. Tsuga canadensis and neighboring grapevines had greatest community similarity. Cribraria violacea was observed on all tree and grapevine species except T. canadensis and neighboring grapevines. Occurrence and species assemblages of myxomycetes were associated with bark pH, not geographic location. Bark of V. aestivalis (pH 4.5) was more acidic than neighboring T. canadensis (pH 4.1), compared to grapevines of the same species neighboring other tree species. Results indicated that most species are not regionally restricted, and although some myxomycetes are associated with a certain pH range, others develop on any substratum. Future research protocols for corticolous myxomycetes should emphasize sampling adequate amounts of substrata in a local region from different host species that have a wide range of bark pH, ensuring a representative sample of species for an entire region.

Fungi and vascular plant interactions are necessary components of natural community establishment, productivity and degradation. While many fungal species serve as decomposers of organic matter, others have evolved mutualistic or parasitic relationships with vascular plants. This research focused on characterizing associations among macrofungi, vascular plant communities and soils. Ha Ha Tonka State Park is in central Missouri and has a varying landscape with numerous natural community types that provide diverse habitats and microhabitats that are ideally suited to the investigation of fungal, floral and soil associations. Five communities sampled within the park included glades, open woodlands, flatwoods, closed-canopy forests and karst sinks. Permanent 0.01 ha. plots were surveyed in the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons. Surveys of plots and entire communities yielded 249 fungal taxa and approximately 265 floral taxa. Soils were analyzed to help define specific edaphic components of each community and used to associate soil attributes with plant and fungal communities. Forest communities contained the most ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi species. Karst sinks and glades had higher soil pH and phosphorus and fewer ectomycorrhizal fungi. Statistical analyses included non-metric multidimensional scaling, multiresponse permutation procedure and indicator species analysis. Indicator species were identified for flatwood, forest and karst communities, but results were inconclusive for glades and open woodlands.

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