Vertical distribution and assemblages of corticolous myxomycetes on five tree species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract

Corticolous myxomycetes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were studied in relation to their association with certain tree species and height of occurrence in the forest canopy. Using the double-rope climbing method, bark was collected at 3 m increments to the tops of trees of five different species. Bark samples from 25 trees were used to prepare 418 moist chamber cultures maintained and observed 4 wk. Eighty-four myxomycete species were identified, including 30 species not known to occur in the park. Tree species, pH, height in tree and water-holding capacity of the bark samples were analyzed to determine the relationships of myxomycete assemblages cultured on the bark. Results suggested that myxomycete community composition among selected tree species were similar, but occurrence and abundance of certain species were related to differences in bark pH. Community similarity values among trees of different species show that trees with the most similar myxomycete communities also have the most similar bark pH. Most myxomycete species in this study have a pH optimum. No variation in species richness was detected at different heights in the trees, and most species were obtained at all heights up to at least 24 m. The water-holding capacity of the bark could not be correlated with species richness or abundance of myxomycetes that inhabit the bark of living trees. This is the first study to characterize myxomycete communities of tree canopies.

Distribution and diversity of myxomycetes in Tiantangzhai National Forest Park, China

“…These results also confirmed the results of previous studies that most members of Stemonitidales and Echinosteliales seemed to prefer acidic conditions compared with species of Physarales (Ndiritu, Spiegel & Stephenson, 2009;Yatsiuk Iryna, Leontyev Dmitry & Shlakhter Mykhailo, 2018). Snell & Keller (2003) suggested that the occurrence and abundance of certain species were significantly related to the pH of the bark, but not to the water retention. However, Stephenson (1989) and Schnittler, Unterseher & Tesmer, 2006 suggested that the water retention of bark was positively correlated with the species of myxomycetes.…”

“…The pH of each dish was measured using a flat plate pH meter (Fisher Scientific Accumet Model PHS-3C; JingKe Company, Shanghai, China). The method to determine water retention of the substrate was that used by Snell & Keller (2003).…”

Influence of cardinal directions on corticolous myxomycetes associated with Swietenia macrophylla King

“…Tree barks are suitable substratum for myxomycetes (Snell & Keller 2003, Liu et al 2015. These bark-associated myxomycetes often possess minute fruiting bodies, and hence are very difficult to observe in the field (Novozhilov et al 2017).…”

“…In the same study, the percent cover of epiphytes did not influence myxomycetes. Other bark characteristics such as the bark texture and water-holding capacity showed varying results when correlated with corticolous myxomycetes (Stephenson 1989, Snell & Keller 2003, Schnittler et al 2006, Everhart et al 2009.…”

Corticolous fungi in Nile Delta region

“…Critical microhabitat factors of the bark that have been observed to influence the distribution and abundance of myxomycetes are water-holding capacity, texture (smooth, rough, spongy, etc. ), pH, and amount of epiphyte cover (lichens, liverworts, mosses) (Stephenson 1989;Snell 2002). Corticolous myxomycete species are adapted to arid conditions and rapid production of a large number of stalked sporangia (Novozhilov et al, 2000).…”