First records and human activity on Brazilian Atlantic Forest Dictyostelids

Abstract

Dictyostelid cellular slime moulds isolated from two natural and cultivated areas in lowland Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil were identified and quantified. Nine species were recognized: Dictyostelium fasciculatum, D. firmibasis, D. macrocephalum, D. aff. monochasioides, D. mucoroides, D. purpureum, Polysphondylium pallidum, P. pseudocandidum and P. violaceum, which are the first records for Brazil. The most abundant species were D. mucoroides, D. purpureum and P. pallidum. A decrease in the abundance of dictyostelids was observed in cultivated areas, indicating that this organism responds to human disturbance.