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Lamproderma aff. pulchellum Meyl. A-D. Sporocarps. E, F. Capillitium. G. Peridium and spores. H, I. Spores.
Source publication
Two species of nivicolous myxomycetes, Lamproderma pseudomaculatum and Lamproderma aff. pulchellum, previously considered as strictly montane, are reported from the lowlands (116–192 m a.s.l.) of the eastern Ukraine during three spring seasons. Lowland collections of L. aff. pulchellum show comparatively low genetic similarity with specimens of thi...
Citations
... Their fructifications develop at the edge of melting snowbanks in spring, with thick stable snow cover playing a major role in the survival of the populations of their trophic stages in winter Borg Dahl et al., 2018b). Although nivicolous myxomycetes are usually considered to be associated with alpine and subalpine regions of the world (Ronikier and Ronikier, 2009), it is becoming more and more obvious that nivicolous species are not restricted to mountainous areas, and their fructifications can occur in lowland forests and grasslands (Novozhilov, 1986;Erastova and Novozhilov, 2015;Buchtoyarova et al., 2018;Yatsiuk and Leontyev, 2020). The first amplicon metagenomic studies showed an even broader distribution of nivicolous myxomycetes outside mountainous areas. ...
Metagenomics could help to overcome some of the limitations of more traditional approaches in myxomycete research. It can be used to increase the taxonomic resolution of ecological studies and to explore the distribution of myxomycete trophic stages in diverse habitats both at large and small geographic scales. In this chapter, we discuss the “pros and cons” of metagenomic methods. At the end, we describe the intriguing results that are beginning to expand our understanding of myxomycete ecology and
biogeography.
... Even in eastern Ukraine, characterized by temperate deciduous forests, nivicolous Lamproderma spp. were found (Yatsiuk and Leontyev 2020). These species, apparently less strictly adapted to alpine conditions, can be expected as well in areas with lower incidence values (Fig. 2). ...
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.
... They are characterized by the formation of fruiting bodies at the edge of melting snow in the spring (Meylan 1908), and the wet uppermost soil layer under the snow serves as a medium for the development of their trophic stages. Since the amoebal stages of nivicolous myxomycetes are susceptible to frost (Shchepin et al. 2014; see discussion in Yatsiuk & Leontyev 2020), the limiting factor for the development of nivicolous species is the insulation power of a long-lasting snow cover, maintaining low but positive temperatures . In addition, microorganisms, which serve as a prey for myxomycetes, decompose plant remains. ...
... Although they have been found in lowlands , Yatsiuk & Leontyev 2020, nivicolous myxomycetes tend to fruit more readily in the mountains of temperate zones (the optimum lies between 1500 and 2500 m a. s. l.). Among the large mountain ridges of Europe, the Carpathians are the least studied for this group (Ronikier et al. 2008). ...
Abstract: During a field survey in April 2019 fourteen species of nivicolous myxomycetes were
recorded from the Carpathian National Nature Park, East Carpathians, Ukraine. Most abundant
were Diderma alpinum, Lepidoderma chailletii, and Lamproderma echinosporum. Five species
(Meriderma echinulatum, Lamproderma arcyrioides, L. album, Diderma europaeum and D. microcarpum)
are new to the Ukraine. All 81 collected specimens were barcoded for a fragment of the
18S rDNA, resulting in 26 ribotypes. Half of the species (51 specimens) were represented by two
to four ribotypes, the remaining seven species (30 specimens) by only one (average: 1.85 ribotypes
per species). Intraspecific differences in ribotypes were often accompanied by subtle morphological
differences between specimens assigned to different ribotypes, including shape of the fruiting body,
its coloration, the structure of the peridium and capillitium, or size, color and ornamentation of
spores.
Key words: 18S rRNA; biospecies; DNA barcoding; morphospecies; ribosomal small subunit
Background
A significant body of valuable data about the myxomycetes of Ukraine lies in a “grey zone”. This encompasses undigitised historical books and articles published in languages such as Polish, French or German, as well as proceedings from local conferences, articles featured in local scientific journals and annual reports submitted to public authorities by employees of protected areas, published in Ukrainian or Russian. Yet, due to their exclusive existence in print and often the Cyrillic alphabet, these publications remain neither findable nor accessible to a wider audience.
New information
The datasets presented here aim to summarise over 150 years of myxomycetes research in Ukraine. The majority of the data has been extracted from published literature sources spanning the years 1842 to 2023, with a minor supplement from unpublished herbarium specimens. The datasets include 5036 georeferenced occurrences, 339 taxa and 91 literature sources. Seventy-one of the used literature sources, mostly published before 2010, were uploaded to Zenodo and are available in open access.
A significant body of valuable data about the myxomycetes of Ukraine lies in a “grey zone”. This encompasses undigitized historical books and articles published in languages such as Polish, French, or German, as well as proceedings from local conferences, articles featured in local scientific journals, and annual reports submitted to public authorities by employees of protected areas, published in Ukrainian or Russian. Yet, due to their exclusive existence in print and often the Cyrillic alphabet, these publications remain neither findable nor accessible to a wider audience.
The datasets presented here aim to summarize over 150 years of myxomycetes research in Ukraine. The majority of the data has been extracted from published literature sources spanning the years 1842 to 2023, with a minor supplement from unpublished herbarium specimens. The datasets include 5036 georeferenced occurrences, 339 taxa and 91 literature sources. Seventy one of the used literature sources, mostly published before 2010, we uploaded to zenodo.org and available in open access.
Preliminary studies in the northern part of the "Bitsevsky forest" natural and historical park resulted in the collection of 79 specimens of nivicolous myxomycetes belonging to 6 species from 3 genera. This is the first record of nivicolous myxomycetes in urban parks in lowlands. Photographs of sporocarps and micromorphological structures are given for each species. Lamproderma ovoideoechinulatum var. microspora, L. zonatopulchellum, and Meriderma carestiae var. carestiae were found for the first time in Moscow Region. The data indicate that high level of anthropogenic pressure, namely trampling and moderate improvement does not restrict sporulation of nivicolous species.
This chapter discusses the adaptations of myxomycetes relating to spore dispersal, which is the key to understanding distribution patterns in this group of protists. Although several groups of protists form spores, myxomycetes are the most successful group, judged by the number of species. 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 have appeared parallel in several taxa. Since fruiting bodies are formed only under optimum conditions, species often have larger distribution ranges than indicated by fruiting bodies. In contrast, many morphospecies may be complexes of cryptic biological 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 markers and barcoding provide novel tools to differentiate species and may link the two separate species concepts in the group, the morphospecies concept and the biospecies concept. Most likely, the number of described morphospecies of myxomycetes 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 the methods used (direct observations vs 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 most macroscopic organisms. Instead, hot spots for myxomycetes seem to be in southern temperate zones, especially broadleaf 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.
