Slime mold

Slime mold is a broad term describing some organisms that use spores to reproduce. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi but are no longer considered part of that kingdom. Although not related to one another, they are still sometimes grouped for convenience. Most slime molds are smaller than a few centimeters, but some species may reach sizes of up to several square meters and masses of up to 30 grams.

Characteristics

Most slime molds are brightly colored, usually yellow, brown, or white. They are often found in soil, lawns, and on the forest floor, commonly on deciduous logs. However, in tropical areas they are also common on inflorescences and leaves.

Life cycle

The life cycle of a slime mold mainly consists of four stages: spore, amoeba, plasmodium, and sporangium. The spore stage is the dormant stage. When conditions are right, the spore germinates and releases an amoeba. The amoeba feeds on bacteria and multiplies by cell division. When food is scarce, the amoeba develops into a plasmodium. The plasmodium is a large, single-celled, multinucleate, and shapeless mass. It moves by cytoplasmic streaming and can reach several feet in diameter. When the food supply wanes, the plasmodium develops into a sporangium. The sporangium is a structure that produces and contains spores. When the sporangium matures, it releases spores, which are dispersed by wind or water. The cycle then begins anew.

Classification

Slime molds, as a group, are polyphyletic. They were originally represented by the subkingdom Gymnomycota in the Fungi kingdom and included the defunct phyla Myxomycota, Acrasiomycota and Labyrinthulomycota. Today, slime molds have been divided among several supergroups, none of which is included in the kingdom Fungi.

See also

• Mycetozoa
• Dictyostelium discoideum
• Protosteloid
• Physarum polycephalum

References

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