Secretive Slime Moulds
Myxomycetes of Australia
By: Steven L Stephenson
Comprehensively describes Australia's 330 known species of myxomycetes, or slime moulds.
Neither plants, nor animals, nor fungi, the myxomycetes are a surprisingly diverse and fascinating group of organisms. They spend the majority of their life out of sight as single-celled amoeboid individuals in leaf litter, soil or decaying wood, foraging for bacteria and other simple life forms. However, when conditions are right, two individual cells come together to give rise to a much larger, creeping structure called a plasmodium, which produces the even more complex and often beautiful fruiting bodies. Indeed, the fruiting bodies of myxomycetes are often miniature works of art! + Full description
Their small size (usually only a few millimetres tall) and fleeting fruiting phase mean that these organisms, although ubiquitous and sometimes abundant, are overlooked by most people. However, recent research by a few dedicated individuals has shown that Australia has a very diverse myxomycete biota with more than 330 species, the largest number known for any region of the Southern Hemisphere.
This comprehensive monograph provides keys, descriptions and information on the known distribution for all of these species in addition to containing introductory material relating to their biology and ecology. Many species are illustrated, showing the diversity of their fruiting bodies, and greatly facilitating their identification.
This book will give naturalists a new insight into an often overlooked group of organisms in addition to providing an incentive to search for the many species which have undoubtedly thus far escaped notice.
- Short descriptionNews
Co-published with the Australian Biological Resources Study (external link).
Reviews
"Secretive Slime Moulds is the first guide to the Myxomycetes of Australia that includes keys at all levels from class to species. It is clearly laid out and provides descriptions of more than 330 species. Introductory sections contain useful background information on life cycles, structure, distribution and ecology as well as on collecting and studying myxomycetes. As such, it is a welcome addition for the mxyomycetologist and the naturalist."
Tom May, Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter, March 2022
Details
Hardback | March 2021 | $180.00ISBN: 9781486314133 | 382 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations, Colour photographs
ePDF | March 2021
ISBN: 9781486314140
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePDF | March 2021
ISBN: 9781486314140
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePDF | March 2021
ISBN: 9781486314140
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePUB | March 2021
ISBN: 9781486314157
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
Features
- Provides a comprehensive synthesis of knowledge on Australia's myxomycetes (plasmodial slime moulds)
- Features beautiful illustrations and stunning macrophotographs
- Originally planned as part of the Fungi of Australia series, but myxomycetes are now placed in their own kingdom
Contents
Authors, Illustrators and PhotographersIntroduction
Distribution, ecology and importance
Phylum Eumycetozoa
References
Acknowledgements
Index
View the full table of contents (PDF, 287 kb).
Authors
Dr Steven L. Stephenson is a Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas, USA.
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