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Title: Myxomycetes (Slime Molds): Taxonomy, Ecology, and Moist Chamber Culturing
Scheduling Details: Feb 19 & 24; Mar 19, 24, & 26. 7–9 PM ET.
Tuition: $225
Description: The myxomycetes (also called plasmodial slime molds) are a group of relatively little-known and generally understudied but utterly fascinating organisms found in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem examined to date. Because some myxomycetes superficially resemble certain fungi and occur in similar habitats, the myxomycetes were once considered to be fungi and are still studied largely by mycologists. However, they are not closely related to fungi. This seminar, which will be based around a series of PowerPoint presentations, will cover such topics as the history of study, biology, systematics, morphology, ecology, and global distribution of myxomycetes, as well as how to collect these organisms in the field and obtain specimens in moist chamber cultures for research purposes. In addition, one session will be devoted to the dictyostelids, the “other” slime molds. The presentations will be of interest to students with academic, thesis, and dissertation interests, as well as teachers, field biologists, and naturalists who would like to become more familiar with myxomycetes.
Steve Stephenson (sls...@uark.edu) is currently an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Prior to coming to Arkansas, he was a Professor of Biology at Fairmont State College (now University) in West Virginia for 27 years. His studies of myxomycetes have taken him to all seven continents and examples of every type of major terrestrial biome. He is the author or coauthor of 18 books and more than 450 book chapters and papers in peer-reviewed journals.
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