Abstract

CAMINO, Mayra et al. Biodiversity survey for myxomycetes in the mountains of central Cuba. Rev. Mex. Mic [online]. 2008, vol.27, pp.39-51. ISSN 0187-3180.

The results of a biodiversity survey for myxomycetes, carried out in montane rainforests of the Ecological Reserve "Alturas de Banao" in the Macizo Guamuahaya Mountains of central Cuba, are reported here. The survey yielded more than 200 field collections of myxomycetes, and 56 species were identified, from these field collections and moist chamber culture collections. Amongst these were 23 species recorded for the first time from Cuba: Arcyria afroalpina, A. globosa, Badhamia melanospora, Ceratiomyxa sphaerosperma, Clastoderma debaryanum, Collaria lurida, Comatricha laxa, C. nigra, C. tenerrima, Craterium concinnum, Cribraria microcarpa, C. tenella, Diderma corrugatum, Didymium iridis, Echinostelium bisporum, E. minutum, Hemitrichia pardina, Licea bulbosa, L. erecta var. erectoides, L. scyphoides, Perichaena vermicularis, Physarum crateriforme, and P. galbeum, Dead leaves of the palm Roystonea regia were an especially productive substrate for myxomycetes, with members of the Trichiales particularly abundant. The myxomycetes recorded from this most recent survey, increases the total number of species reported for the Reserve to 69.

Keywords : Distribution; Alturas de Banao Ecological Reserve; Eumycetozoa; plasmodial slime molds; species inventory.