Dictyostelid cellular slime moulds in the forests of New Zealand

Abstract

During the period of February to April of 1998, soil/litter samples for isolation of dictyostelid cellular slime moulds were collected throughout New Zealand. Collecting sites included examples of main forest types found in the country and a range in latitude (35°S to 47°S) that encompassed most of New Zealand. Thirteen species of dictyostelids were recovered; all of these occurred at low frequencies and densities. This total included a number of species (e.g., Dictyostelium mucoroides and Polysphondylium violaceum) that are common and widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere as well as several other species that have a more restricted distribution. Among the latter are Dictyostelium fasciculatum, not previously known outside of Europe, and D. rosarium, previously reported from only a few scattered localities in the Northern Hemisphere. Five of the species recovered (D. antarcticum, D. australe, D. leptosomum, D. quercibrachium, and P. anisocaule) are described for the first time. New Zealand is the most isolated land mass of its size in the world, and the assemblage of dictyostelids present is quite distinctive and seems to reflect this isolation.

Dictyostelids from Mediterranean forests of the south of Europe

“…D. fasciculatum was originally found only in Europe (Cavender et al 1995) and has since been isolated in New Zealand in 2002 (Cavender et al 2002). In this study, P. candidum was found more frequently than P. pallidum, which was only found by us in one place, the same happened in Germany (Cavender et al 1995).…”

“…It is one of the most abundant species together with D. leptosomum. Dictyoselium leptosomum was described from New Zealand (Cavender et al 2002), but before this, it was known as D. mucoroides L-type (Traub 1972). Many records of D. mucoroides actually may be D. leptosomum.…”

“…(1984) considered that D. fasciculatum is probably cosmopolitan in distribution but Cavender et al (1995) mention that it is not known anywhere outside Europe. Recently (Cavender et al 2002), it was also found in New Zealand. In the south of Europe it seems related with limestone soils with slightly basic pH (6.49, 7, 7.22, 7.65, 7.81).…”

“…This species appears to be widely distributed, although it was described in 2002. It was probably listed as mucoroides in previous studies (Cavender et al 2002).…”

Multiple Dictyostelid Species Destroy Biofilms of Klebsiella oxytoca and Other Gram Negative Species

“…Dictyostelids are abundant in temperate woodland soils but they have also been identified in diverse habitats that include caves, agricultural land, prairies, marshes, sandy mesas, tundra, and tropical forest (e.g., Cavender 1973, 2013; Cavender et al 2002; Landolt et al 2008; Romeralo et al 2010, 2011b; Swanson et al 2001, 2002; Vadell et al 2011). In most cases they are found in association with decaying leaves and organic waste (solid surfaces).…”