FIGS 11-22 - uploaded by Carlos Lado
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Licea eremophila. Stages in the life cycle. 11. Spore with multiple protoplasts (dwb 3002). Bar 5 20 mm. 12. Spores showing germination pore (arrow) and early amoebae (dwb 2826). Bar 5 20 mm. 13. Amoebae ( dwb 2826). Bar 5 20 mm. 14. Detail of older amoebae feeding on bacteria (dwb 3002). Bar 5 20 mm. 15. Amoeba showing contractile vacuole (dwb 3002). Bar 5 20 mm. 16. Amoeba rounding up to form a microcyst. (dwb 3002). Bar 5 20 mm. 17-18. Two protoplasmodia on agar in a 10 min sequence (dwb 3092). Bar 5 200 mm. 19. Protoplasmodia making tracks on agar (arrow) (dwb 3092). Bar 5 100 mm. 20. Two protoplasmodia on the filter paper of a moist chamber culture (dwb 3002). Bar 5 100 mm. 21-22. Sporocarps maturing on filter paper of moist chamber culture (dwb 3002). Bar 5 0.2 mm.
Source publication
A new stipitate species of myxomycete of the genus Licea is described based on material from arid areas in Argentina and Chile. It was isolated from moist chamber cultures and found fruiting on field collections, usually on the same substrate, Puya sp. (Bromeliaceae). It differs from all described species in the genus in that it has stipitate sporo...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... (FIG. 11) and germinated by a pore in the spore wall (FIG. 12). Germination took 3 d both on 0.75% water agar (WA) and in germination slide cultures. Fewer than 30% of the germination attempts were successful. The spores produced four small (10- 20 mm long) myxamoebae (FIGS. 12-16) that in slide cultures quickly converted to microcysts (FIG. 16). Myxamoebae on 0.75% WA plates grew and multi- plied rapidly, forming vigorous feeding fronts. Swarm cells were observed when sterile water was added to the amoebal mass. On several occasions after weeks to several months of growth in the thick bacterial and yeast mélange isolated with spores from the original substrate, polynucleate ...
Citations
... The information on the distribution of the species was obtained from recent specialized literature on the biodiversity of Myxomycetes (e.g. Schnittler & Novozhilov 1996, Yamamoto 1998, 2006, Novozhilov et al. 1999, 2006, 2017, Lado et al. 2003, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, Estrada-Torres et al. 2009, Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010, 2013, Kylin et al. 2013, Rojas et al. 2018, as well as from checklists (e.g. Drozdowicz et al. 2003, McHugh & Ing 2012, Yatsiuk et al. 2020, Kryvomaz et al. 2020, Zemlyankaya et al. 2020, Johannesen & Vetlesen 2020, catalogues (e.g. ...
... Spore-to-spore cultivation may also provide more information about this group. This would allow the type of plasmodium to be confirmed, since the development from a protoplasmodium, where this has been observed (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010, 2019, is common in this subgenus and according to some authors is a characteristic of the genus as a whole. It does appear, however, from the observations herein, that this subgenus at least could be a natural taxonomic group. ...
A taxonomic revision of the genus Licea, subgenus Licea, using type collections and SEM imaging of the type material is presented. The type specimens of 20 species were obtained and studied simultaneously, and detailed comparisons of morphological features by light microscope and SEM were made. In four other species only published information was analized. The SEM imaging of the type material has enabled clarification of some taxonomic characters, such as the number of peridial layers, ornamentation of the inner surface of the peridium, and the ornamentation of the epispore. As a result of this study a new species from Mexico, Licea ampullliformis, has been formally described, and synonymy has been found in the case of two species, L. castanea and the recently described L. bryocorticola. As no type material was found for L. minima, a neotype has been designated here. In the case of L. pusilla an epitype has been selected in addition to the illustration, published in 18th century, which was chosen as a lectotype. A dichotomous key of the species examined is proposed to facilitate their identification.
... Ronikier and Lado (2015) discussed differences between myxomycete assemblages and the optimum times for the appearance of nivicolous species between different geographic regions. They suggested that the appearance of strictly nivicolous species, outside the normal snow-melt period, may indicate some special climatic conditions restricted to the southern hemisphere, since some species have been collected there even in the austral summer Stephenson et al., 2007;Wrigley de Basanta et al., 2010). ...
The myxomycetes, as the name suggests, were traditionally thought to be closely related to fungi and to be present primarily in temperate forests. As research has progressed, they have been found to form part of a supergroup, the Amoebozoa. Myxomycetes have been recorded and/or isolated from every type of plant, plant detritus and vegetation type in every terrestrial ecosystem investigated to date. In this chapter, a review of methods used to collect myxomycetes from the field and isolate these organisms in laboratory culture is presented. The methods are based to a large extent on our own experience of studying these organisms for more than 30 years, to which we have added as much helpful additional information and as many alternative protocols as possible from the literature. Obviously, the latter is a small selection of all the available literature and thus is not exhaustive, but we hope to have covered the majority of methods used by researchers to obtain these organisms, both those traditionally used as well as others only recently developed.
... In terms of species some, such as Badhamia melanospora, Didymium wildpretii, Licea succulenticola or Physarum spectabile seem to appear more readily in arid areas than others suggesting an assemblage specific to these xerophyllous conditions or to the plants that inhabit these environments. This indicates that some species are associated with specific environments or specific plants in those environments and reinforces the idea that each area has its own characteristic myxobiota as suggested previously (Wrigley de Basanta & al. 2010a, 2013. The influence of microhabitat conditions on these microorganisms and the indirect effect of macrohabitat factors have been pointed out in many studies before Wrigley de Basanta & al. 2010a, 2013 and is confirmed by these results. ...
... This indicates that some species are associated with specific environments or specific plants in those environments and reinforces the idea that each area has its own characteristic myxobiota as suggested previously (Wrigley de Basanta & al. 2010a, 2013. The influence of microhabitat conditions on these microorganisms and the indirect effect of macrohabitat factors have been pointed out in many studies before Wrigley de Basanta & al. 2010a, 2013 and is confirmed by these results. In particular, the analysis of the results from the two surveys of extreme xerophyllous overlapping environments in Peru, using similar methods, has revealed that each vegetational belt has some similarity in the myxomycete assemblage of species. ...
The results obtained from a second survey for Myxomycetes in the arid areas of Peru are reported. A total of 37 localities from the cactus belt (‘cardonal’), between 1500 and 3000 m a.s.l., were sampled over six years. This survey is based on 601 identifiable collections of myxomycetes, developed in the field under natural conditions or those that were recovered from moist chamber cultures. In total, 84 taxa representing 19 genera were recorded. One new species, Cribraria spinispora Lado & D.Wrigley sp. nov., is described, three species new to South America and 22 additional new species for Peru are reported as well. Endemic plants, expecially cacti, had a particular relevance as myxomycete substrates. The predominance of the order Physarales T.Macbr. in arid areas is reinforced. Comments are included on some collections, as well as SEM micrographs of several species. A statistical evaluation of the diversity of myxomycetes in the cardonal area and a comparison of this area with the dry coastal desert of Peru and other Neotropical xeric environments are also included. Results show that the arid areas are rich in myxomycetes, and that each area has a unique assemblage. The differences appear to be related to the host plants.
... During the past 15 years, a number of studies have been carried out in the deserts of Asia, North America, South America and Australia. These studies have yielded a considerable body of information on the myxomycetes found in many of the major desert regions of the world (Blackwell and Gilbertson, 1980b;Estrada-Torres et al., 2009;Lado et al., 2009;Lado et al., 2011;Lado et al., 2016;Wrigley de Basanta et al., 2010;Wrigley de Basanta et al., 2015), but there has been no previous study in southern Africa, and there were (until this study) no myxomycete records from Namibia (Ndiritu et al., 2009). Although the study reported herein represented the first investigation of myxomycetes in the Namib Desert, there have been several previous studies of the fungi. ...
... This species has pale yellow sporocarps with a persistent shiny peridium. This distinctive usually stipitate species was described from arid environments in South America (Wrigley de Basanta et al., 2010) and was recently reported from the coastal desert of Peru (Lado et al., 2016). The yellowish sporocarps, angular where the platelets meet, and polyhedral warted spores 10-12 μm diam. ...
This paper describes the results from a survey for myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) in the Namib Desert. There are no previous records of this group of organisms from Namibia, so the results are all first records for the country and demonstrate that even the world's oldest desert has a surprising number of these visible and important microorganisms, which form an integral part of the desert microbiota. The survey recovered eight species that have never previously been reported from any country in Africa, and reveals the presence of two species Physarum atacamense and Licea eremophila, recently described from arid areas in South America. Three of the species collected are possibly new to science, but there was insufficient material to develop formal descriptions. Comments on the most interesting collections are included, and the results are compared with surveys for myxomycetes in other arid environments. These results show similarities with the coastal desert of Peru, as well as a disjunct distribution and evidence of area specificity. The fact that deserts harbor a notable diversity of myxomycetes is confirmed.
... The genus is in the order Liceales, and was described at the end of the eighteenth century by Schrader (1797:16). Licea includes more than 70 species from all over the world (Lado 2005(Lado -2018, some recently described from plants particularly adapted to the conditions in arid areas, such as Licea succulenticola (Mosquera et al. 2003) and L. eremophila (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010). ...
... A recently described species from arid areas in South America, L. eremophila D. Wrigley, Lado & Estrada has yellowish brown sporothecae and dehiscence by platelets, but it is usually stipitate, and the platelets have ornamented edges. The species also has polyhedral spores with a unique ornamentation by SEM, reminiscent of the markings on a tennis ball (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010). Licea aurea platelets have no ornamentation and the spores are subglobose and smooth. ...
... This is much longer than the time taken for the sporocarps to appear in moist chamber cultures that was from 9-20 d. However, as noted for other species (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010), since the substrate in moist chamber cultures could contain sclerotia, microcysts or macrocysts the incubation time does not reflect a spore-to-spore life cycle time. Similarly the specific agar culture conditions obviously affect the growth of this myxomycete and the time taken for a complete life cycle under natural conditions may be very different, and probably vary considerably according to the biotic and abiotic factors of the microhabitat. ...
A new sessile species of myxomycete, Licea aurea is described, based on material from the Andean puna in Peru at almost 5000 m. It was isolated from moist chamber cultures of Azorella compacta litter and cultured on agar from spore to spore. It can be distinguished from other species in the genus by its small size, golden colour, dehiscence and smooth thick-walled spores with a thinner area. Life-cycle events are described and illustrated, from germination to sporulation. The morphology of the myxomycete specimens was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy, and both light and SEM micrographs of relevant details are included.
... Myxomycetes of arid areas have been the subject of several studies in recent years Lado et al. 2007Lado et al. , 2009Lado et al. , 2011Mosquera et al. 2003;Novozhilov and Schnittler 2008;Novozhilov et al. 2010;Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010. The exclusive myxobiota that develops, mainly or exclusively, on decaying succulent plants typical of these habitats was identified by Lado et al. (1999), who coined the term "succulenticolous myxomycetes" for this ecological group. ...
A new plasmodiocarpic and sporocarpic species of myxomycete in the genus Physarum is described and illustrated. This new species appeared on decayed leaves and remains of succulent plants (Agave, Opuntia, Yucca) growing in arid zones. It differs from all other species in the genus in having polyhedral spores linked in chains like a string of beads, a unique feature within all known myxomycetes. Apart from detailed morphological data, partial sequences of both the small-subunit ribosomal RNA and elongation factor 1-alpha genes, generated from four isolates collected in two distant regions, i.e., Mexico and Canary Islands, are also provided in this study. Combined evidence supports the identity of the specimens under study as a new species.
... Ronikier and Lado (2015) discussed differences between myxomycete assemblages and the optimum times for the appearance of nivicolous species between different geographic regions. They suggested that the appearance of strictly nivicolous species, outside the normal snow-melt period, may indicate some special climatic conditions restricted to the southern hemisphere, since some species have been collected there even in the austral summer Stephenson et al., 2007;Wrigley de Basanta et al., 2010). ...
The myxomycetes, as the name suggests, were traditionally thought to be closely related to fungi and to be present primarily in temperate forests. As research has progressed, they have been found to form part of a supergroup, the Amoebozoa. Myxomycetes have been recorded and/or isolated from every type of plant, plant detritus, and vegetation type in every terrestrial ecosystem investigated to date. In this chapter, a review of methods used to collect myxomycetes from the field and isolate these organisms in laboratory culture is presented. The methods are based to a large extent on our own experience of studying these organisms for more than 30 years, to which we have added as much helpful additional information and as many alternative protocols as possible from the literature. Obviously, the latter is a small selection of all the available literature and thus is not exhaustive, but we hope to have covered the majority of methods used by researchers to obtain these organisms, both those traditionally used, as well as others only recently developed.
... and dead remains of the cacti Trichocereus sp. and Miqueliopuntia miquelii (Monv.) F. Ritter from Argentina and Chile (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2010). ...
Badhamia rhytidosperma, Didymium synsporon, Echinostelium coelocephalum, Perichaena polygonospora, and Physarum synsporum are described in both macroscopic and microscopic detail and represent new records from Mexico.
... Research carried out in the Patagonian steppe registered 133 different species (Lado & al., 2014), almost the 15% of the total number of species known worldwide. These arid regions have become even more interesting because of the number of new species that have been discovered and described from them (Lado & al., 1999(Lado & al., , 2007(Lado & al., , 2013(Lado & al., , 2014Estrada-Torres & al., 2001, 2009Wrigley de Basanta & al., 2008b, 2009, 2010a, 2015. These new species represent four different orders, and the genera Cribraria, Didymium, Licea, Macbrideola, Perichaena and Physarum. ...
... with a uniform thick wall and each sporocarp forms from a colourless to yellow protoplasmodium. In South America only known from the arid lands of Argentina (Wrigley de Basanta & al., 2010; and Chile (Wrigley de Basanta & al., 2010a;Lado & al., 2013 This species usually develops on succulent plants, but has also been found on leaves and leaf bases. It is distributed throughout the arid regions of Mexico (Mosquera & al., 2003;Lado & al., 2007;Moreno & al., 2007;Salazar-Márquez & al., 2014;Lizárraga & al., 2015), Brazil (Bezerra & al., 2014), Ecuador (McHugh, 2005, Chile (Lado & al., 2007(Lado & al., , 2013, Argentina 2014) In South America only previously recorded from Ecuador and Chile (Lado & al., 2013). ...
... Some species are even shared with those found in North American arid areas such as Diderma acanthosporum and Perichaena luteola . However the shared species between the three South American deserts include Echinostelium arboreum, Licea succulenticola or Physarum licheniforme (Lado & al., , 2013, and species hitherto known only from South American deserts such as Licea eremophila and Physarum atacamense (Wrigley de Basanta & al., 2010a;. The striking difference between the species found in Central Chile and the study area, where 87% of the species are different, could be due to the clearly Mediterranean vegetation of the former favouring the development of foliicolous species such as Didymium chilense Estrada, Lado & D. Wrigley, Didymium comatum (Lister) Nann.-Bremek., Didymium eximium Peck, Didymium laxifilum G. Lister & J. Ross and Physarum newtonii T. Macbr. ...
Results obtained from the first survey for myxomycetes in the hyperarid areas of Peru are reported. Sampling over three consecutive years was carried out at 96 localities between 0 and 1500 m elevation. A total of 78 species from 23 genera in all 6 myxomycete orders were determined from 723 collections of myxomycetes. One new species, Didymium peruvianum, is described, 2 species new to the Neotropics, 4 new records for South America and 41 additional new species for Peru are reported, increasing the country catalogue by over 50%. Results show that arid areas are rich in myxomycetes, and that each area has a unique species assemblage. Endemic plants had a particular relevance as myxomycete substrates. The predominance of the order Physarales in arid areas is reinforced, and the ecological importance of coastal fogs (garúas) is evident from the results. Comments are included on interesting or rare collections, as are SEM micrographs of several species and statistical evaluation of the results.
... It now appears that their presence in arid and semi-arid environments is more widespread than previously imagined, to a large degree due to the funding of the study of the warm drylands of America such as the Atacama Desert , the Monte Desert and Tehucán-Cuicatlán Valley in Mexico (Estrada-Torres & al., 2009). Many new species have been described (Lado & al., 1999Estrada-Torres & al., 2001Mosquera & al., 2003;, 2010a, 2012, highlighting the importance of myxomycetes in these extreme arid environments, in spite of their dependence on water to complete their life cycle. ...
... Authors of three of the species with no capillitium, above, suggest that the yellow spore colour differentiates them from most Licea species, and that these species may be intermediates between the genera (Novozhilov & al., 2008). Wrigley de Basanta & al. (2010a) pointed out that the presence of a protoplasmodium can be an additional character used to define the genus Licea. In the case of P. nigra, the plasmodium was definitely not a protoplasmodium. ...
Biodiversity surveys for myxomycetes (Amoebozoa) were carried out in three consecutive years (2009 to 2011) in the cold arid Patagonian Steppe, Argentina. The surveys, the first to cover such an extensive area in South America, form part of the Myxotropic project funded by the Spanish Government. Specimens were collected in 174 localities in four different provinces (Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz), between 36° and 52° S latitudes. The most common types of substrate investigated were the dominant shrubs and grasses of the Patagonian steppe, and the Nothofagus forests, characteristic of the transition areas, but other plants such as small cacti and cushion plants were also included in the survey. A total of 133 different species and 5 varieties of myxomycetes representing 31 genera were identified in the 1134 specimens collected either in the field, or from moist chamber cultures prepared with samples of plant material obtained from the same collecting sites. The results include one species new to science, Perichaena nigra, and 17 species and two varieties that were previously unknown for either the Neotropics or South America, Badhamia armillata, Dianema mongolicum, Didymium annulisporum, D. leptotrychum, D. orthonemata, D. sturgisii, Echinostelium coelocephalum, Licea deplanata, L. nannengae, Macbrideola argentea, M. oblonga, Oligonema aurantium, Perichaena luteola, P. madagascariensis, Physarum luteolum, Protophysarum phloiogenum, Trichia contorta var. attenuata, T. contorta var. iowensis, T. erecta. An additional 19 species are new records for Argentina. These additions make Argentina the country in South America, at present, with the greatest number of myxomycetes catalogued having more than 50% of the species cited from the whole Neotropics. Diversity and biogeographic distribution of these organisms are discussed, and taxonomic comments on rare or unusual species are included and illustrated with photographs by LM and SEM. The results indicate that the myxomycetes, are widely distributed and are a normal component of Patagonian biota. Many of the substrates investigated were endemic plants from the region and are new substrates for a number of species of myxomycete. Differences between the variety of species in this area and others in Argentina and Chile, suggest a certain regional specialization of these organisms, the assemblage of which appear to depend on plant substrate species.
