Evaluation of tree canopy epiphytes and bark characteristics associated with the presence of corticolous myxomycetes

Abstract

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.

Hydrological properties of bark of selected forest tree species. Part I: the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark

“…From the point of view of the formation of water balance in forest ecosystems, what is focused on is the role of bark in rainfall retention (Herwitz 1985;Levia and Herwitz 2005;Levia and Wubbena 2006;Valovà and Bieleszovà 2008) as well as the influence of the differences in bark roughness and water capacity in different tree species on the size of stemflow production (Návar 1993;Aboal et al 1999;Levia et al 2010;. Bark constitutes the environment for the life of numerous organisms, such as bryophytes and lichens, whose species composition and distribution over the bark surface largely depend on differences in the texture and acidity of the bark of different forest tree species (Bates and Brown 1981;Stephenson 1989;Kuusinen 1996;Everhart et al 2009;Ö ztürk and Güvenç 2010;Ö ztürk and Oran 2011). In the literature, it is stated that bark may be used in the biomonitoring of air pollution (Schulz et al 1999) and that it is important in the protection of the vascular cambium during the occurrence of heat stress caused by forest fires.…”

Microbial Communities Associated with Tree Bark Foliose Lichens: A Perspective on their Microecology

“…The presence of myxomycetes in litter and on tree bark and leaves has been widely documented (e.g. Everhart et al 2009;H€ ark€ onen et al 2004;Keller and Brooks 1977;Schnittler 2001;Spiegel et al 2004). Thus, resident slime molds on tree bark, as well as spores carried by air currents, may be recruited beneath tree-borne lichens to establish the robust populations noted in this research.…”

“…; Everhart et al. ; Roberts and Zimmer ; Thompson , ). Moreover, while prior studies have examined the ecology of lichen‐associated microbes and hypothesized about the presence of microbial food webs, there is limited published evidence to support the presence of microbial food webs based on heterotrophic bacteria as primary producers.…”

“…However, their eukaryotic microbial community ecology including protists has received only limited attention (e.g. Beyens et al 1986;Everhart et al 2009;Roberts and Zimmer 1990;Thompson 1958Thompson , 1960. Moreover, while prior studies have examined the ecology of lichenassociated microbes and hypothesized about the presence of microbial food webs, there is limited published evidence to support the presence of microbial food webs based on heterotrophic bacteria as primary producers.…”

Upper Canopy Collection and Identification of Grapevines (Vitis) from Selected Forests in the Southeastern United States

“…Average neighboring tree height was approximately 25.7 m. Mean diameter at breast height of grapevines was 9.6 cm for V. aestivalis and 8.9 cm for V. vulpina. Bark texture and thickness were evaluated for sampled bark and were highly variable within species of Vitis (Everhart et al 2009). Therefore, bark characteristics were not considered as characters for identifications.…”