Diversity of Dictyostelid Cellular Slime Molds, Including Two Species New to Science, in Forest Soils of Changbai Mountain, China

Abstract

Dictyostelium robusticaule and Heterostelium recretum are two new species of dictyostelids reported in this study. The potential use of atp1 sequences is a complement of SSU rDNA sequences for the identifying dictyostelids.

Diversity of Cellular Slime Molds (Dictyostelids) in the Fanjing Mountain Nature Reserve and Geographical Distribution Comparisons with Other Representative Nature Reserves in Different Climate Zones of China

“…The Jaccard similarity coefficient (S J %) of the family, genus, and species was calculated using data obtained from Changbai Mountain (CB) [ 23 ] in Jilin Province, Gushan Mountain (GS) [ 42 ] in Fujian Province, Baiyun Mountain (BY) [ 43 ] in Henan Province, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Tibet (QT) [ 22 ], and the Fanjing Mountain Nature Reserve (FJ) in Guizhou in the present study ( Figure 13 A). At the family level, the majority for each other (S J %) was higher than 50%, reaching moderate similarity.…”

“…Dictyostelium purpureum ( Figure 7 ), with large, robust sorocarps and deep purplish sori, is a cosmopolitan species reported from Africa, across North America, and in many localities in Asia [ 45 ]. Dictyostelium robusticaule , with the species name referring to its robust sorophores, was first reported by Zou et al [ 23 ] from a mixed forest on Changbai Mountain, China. In this study, the species was isolated from a broadleaf forest, and SSU rRNA phylogeny places it in a highly supported clade together with D. robusticaule (GenBank accession no.…”

“…In order to clarify the geographical distribution of dictyostelids in the nature reserves, four other representative protected areas in China were selected along with Fanjing Mountain Nature Reserve in this study; the data sources for the four representative protected areas included seven species from Changbai Mountain (CB) [ 23 ] ( Dictyostelium discoideum , D. mucoroides , D. robusticaule , Cavenderia fasciculata , Heterostelium pallidum , H. recretum , H. candidum ), three species from Gushan Mountain (GS) [ 42 ] ( Dictyostelium brefeldianum , D. clavatum , D. purpureum ), five species from Baiyun Mountain (BY) [ 43 ] ( Dictyostelium sphaerocephalum , D. purpureum , Heterostelium candidum , H. tenuissium , Polysphondylium violaceum ), and 12 species from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QT) [ 22 ] ( Dictyostelium brevicaule , D. vermiforme , D. brefeldianum , D. sphaerocephalum , D. minimum , D. crassicaule , D. multiforme , Cavenderia fasciculata , C. antarctica , C. aureostipes , C. exigua , Heterostelium tikalense) .…”

“…Herein, we review the history of Chinese research on dictyostelids in light of the recent wave of research, with an increase in sample collection since 2010 (Figure 1B). There have been 58 species and varieties reported, which makes China one of the world's biodiversity hotspots [19][20][21][22][23][24]. In fact, most of these species Traditional morphology-based taxonomy of dictyostelids has been replaced by a molecular phylogeny.…”

Environmental factors influencing the diversity and distribution of dictyostelid cellular slime molds in forest and farmland soils of western China

“…Scientific studies have found that mixed forests are particularly interesting for resistance against the uncertainties of extreme climate development, as higher structural complexity and species interactions can be expected to be less affected in these forests compared to monospecific ones ( 59 , 60 ). In a recent study, Zou et al ( 41 ) studied the diversity of dictyostelids in Changbai Mountain of China and found that mixed broadleaf–conifer forests produced more isolates and species than broadleaf forests at the same elevation and also had the highest species richness. It is remarkable that D. giganteum and D. sphaerocephalum were reported again from farmland, consistent with previously reported species by Stephenson and Rajguru in agricultural soils in the United States ( 5 ).…”