Myxomycetes at Black Sugarloaf contains information about field collections of myxomycetes (acellular slime moulds) found in a tall wet Eucalypt forest at Black Sugarloaf, Northern Tasmania between 2010 and 2020. It includes habitat descriptions, keys to the Orders, Families and Genera of Myxomycetes as well as an introductory visual key. One page is devoted to each of the 135 species collected and includes a description of the substrate, size and colour of the fruiting bodies (sporangia, aethalia, pseudoaethalia or plasmodiocarps), and descriptions of the microscopic characters. Every species has at least one colour photograph of the fruiting bodies, microscopic images of spores, capillitium and peridium (if relevant) and plasmodium if observed. Notes cover such things as relative abundance, seasonality, texts used for identification and reasons for determination.Appendices include illustrations of the parts of the fruiting bodies of Myxomycetes; a glossary; details of the dominant plant species at the four main search areas; the species associated with Clematis aristata, a vigorous native vine; the 2019 'hotspot'; and references and websites.

Myxomycetes: Biology, Systematics, Biogeography and Ecology, Second Edition provides a complete collection of general and technical information on myxomycetes microorganisms. Its broad scope takes an integrated approach, considering a number of important aspects surrounding their genetics and molecular phylogeny. The book treats myxomycetes as a distinct group from fungi and includes molecular information that discusses systematics and evolutionary pathways. Written and developed by an international team of specialists, this second edition contains updated information on all aspects of myxomycetes. It incorporates relevant and new material on current barcoding developments, plasmodial network experimentation, and non-STEM disciplinary assimilation of myxomycete information. This book is a unique and authoritative resource for researchers in organismal biology and ecology disciplines, as well as students and academics in biology, ecology, microbiology, and similar subject areas. Cover image used with permission from Steve Young Photography - Written in a simple, concise and relatively non-technical style, allowing for a broad readership within biological, environmental and life science programs at academic and research institutions - Contains the comprehensive body of information available on myxomycetes under one cover, with contributions from the leading authorities in their respective areas of expertise - Provides straightforward, compiled information about myxomycetes and the potential of this group for basic and applied research - Offers completely updated material in every chapter, including new material on barcoding and Physarum polycephalum biological factors

Neither plants, nor animals, nor fungi, the myxomycetes are a surprisingly diverse and fascinating group of organisms. They spend the majority of their life out of sight as single-celled amoeboid individuals in leaf litter, soil or decaying wood, foraging for bacteria and other simple life forms. However, when conditions are right, two individual cells come together to give rise to a much larger, creeping structure called a plasmodium, which produces the even more complex and often beautiful fruiting bodies. Indeed, the fruiting bodies of myxomycetes are often miniature works of art! Their small size (usually only a few millimetres tall) and fleeting fruiting phase mean that these organisms, although ubiquitous and sometimes abundant, are overlooked by most people. However, recent research by a few dedicated individuals has shown that Australia has a very diverse myxomycete biota with more than 330 species, the largest number known for any region of the Southern Hemisphere. This comprehensive monograph provides keys, descriptions and information on the known distribution for all of these species in addition to containing introductory material relating to their biology and ecology. Many species are illustrated, showing the diversity of their fruiting bodies, and greatly facilitating their identification. This book will give naturalists a new insight into an often overlooked group of organisms in addition to providing an incentive to search for the many species which have undoubtedly thus far escaped notice.

This densely-packed book introduces the fascinating world of myxomycetes, the acellular slime moulds. It describes their intriguing life cycle and important ecological roles as decomposers, nutrient recyclers and food for numerous invertebrates. And it reveals their exquisite evocative forms through microscope and camera, along with time lapse images that capture the dramatic changes in colour and shape as the fruiting bodies mature.The past ten years has seen a burgeoning interest in slime moulds by photographers, students and enthusiasts who are captivated by their singular beauty. This popular and informative book-now in its fourth edition-is an aid to their identification, an illustrated glossary, and an account of a passion for slime moulds that has led to the discovery of a wealth of species inhabiting a tall wet eucalypt forest in central north Tasmania.

'Where the slime mould creeps' introduces the fascinating world of myxomycetes, the plasmodial or acellular slime moulds. It describes their life cycle, the different types of plasmodia and the key features of their spore-bearing fruiting bodies, with numerous images that reveal this important but little-known subject. This third edition includes updated information based on the latest research from around the world; additional personal accounts of slime mould 'hotspots'; and the species list for Black Sugarloaf-and Australia-has been updated. Also included are some of Thomas McBride's poetic descriptions from his 1899 book The North American Slime-Moulds, and musings about the function of iridescence in these beautiful but often overlooked organisms. The number of species depicted in this edition has increased to 121 and almost all the photographs in the previous editions have been replaced with images using focus stacking. Also included are more time-lapse series that show the remarkable changes in colour and shape of developing fruiting bodies, micrographs that illustrate the ornate microscopic features found within their spore mass, and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) that show features not captured by conventional microscopes. This book is packed with information intended for the general reader. Its numerous photographs and clear descriptions of key features should enable identification to family or genus for anyone lucky enough to find a slime mould.

A particularly versatile reference work for all those needing a guide to botanical terminology and plant structure.

This is the culmination of many decades of field work and study and is the most comprehensive photographic field guide on Australian fungi yet published. This field guide covers more than 500 fungi species with 548 superb colour photographs. All fungi photographed in their natural environment- many for the first time with information on fungal biology, ecology, classification, distribution, roles of fungi in nature, and spore prints.

The first comprehensive monograph of Aldrovanda, the rare andextraordinary carnivorous "Waterwheel Plant". This incrediblecarnivore, known for trapping aquatic prey between jaw-like lobesthat dramatically snap shut when triggered, is related to thefamous Venus Flytrap and employs one of the fastest movementresponses known in the plant kingdom. Not only arthropods arecaught in its deadly jaws, but even small vertebrates includingtadpoles and fish fry.Representing over four years of study and research, thislong-awaited work presents a pioneering and uniquely detailedtreatment of all aspects of the botanical history, ecology,evolutionary history, distribution and cultivation of this novelplant. The text also addresses the pressing need for integratedconservation and management initiatives.Among the many highlights of this work are:- Spectacular imagery of Aldrovanda, including scanning electronmicroscopy, histological sections, and many previously unpublishedphotos of the plant throughout its worldwide habitat- The formal description of a new infraspecific taxon ofAldrovanda.- The most definitive guide to cultivating this unique speciesever published- The inclusion of new and previously unpublished data relatingto key aspects of the plant's reproduction, dispersal and ecology