Cellular Slime Molds in Forest Soils of West Virginia

Abstract

A study of occurrence and distribution of cellular slime molds (CSM) in forest soils of West Virginia was carried out. Samples for CSM isolation were collected from 21 study sites, including examples of all major forest types of the state, and ranged in elevation from 145-1210 m. Twelve species were isolated. The average number of species isolated at a given study site was 6.6, and average density (clones/g) was 140. Based on importance values calculated from pooled data for all study sites within each of three elevation ranges, several of the more widely distributed and abundant species have distribution patterns that show a response to elevation. For example, Polysphondylium violaceum, Dictyostelium minutum and D. purpureum become less important with increasing elevation, whereas D. mucoroides and D. discoideum become more important. In general, absolute densities of CSM are highest in soils at lower elevations and tend to decrease with increasing elevation.