Original paper
Myxomycetes from the highlands of Ethiopia
Dagamac, Nikki Heherson A.; Hoffmann, Michael; Novozhilov, Yuri K.; Schnittler, Martin
Nova Hedwigia Band 104 Heft 1-3 (2017), p. 111 - 127
published: Feb 1, 2017
DOI: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2016/0380
ArtNo. ESP050010401006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
A rapid assessment of myxomycete diversity in the northern Ethiopian highlands revealed 39 species belonging to 14 genera, all new to the country. Most of the 151 records come from the highlands around Lake Tana and the Simien Mountains. According to species accumulation curves, more species (83) can be expected, but this is the first fairly comprehensive annotation of myxomycetes from the country. We describe and barcode three records of Diderma cf. miniatum with a strong bright red peridium and one record of Didymium cf. flexuosum with a conspicuous broad reticulation in the spore ornamentation, both findings may represent species new to science. A number of rarely recorded species, like Didymium saturnus, Metatrichia floripara, Perichaena areolata, and Physarina echinospora mount evidence that similar to its unique flora, the east African mountain ranges harbor a diverse and distinctive myxomycete assemblage. Especially interesting as substrate plants were the hollow decaying trunks of giant tree-like lobelia, working as natural moist chambers.
Keywords
species list • plasmodial slime molds • old world tropics • moist chamber cultures