Slime molds

prefLabel
  • Slime Molds
definition
  • A type of heterotrophic protistan with a life cycle that includes free-living cells that at some point congregate and differentiate into spore-bearing structures. 
inScheme
broader
Abstract from DBPedia
    Slime mold or slime mould is an informal name given to several kinds of unrelated eukaryotic organisms with a life cycle that includes a free-living single-celled stage and the formation of spores. Spores are often produced in macroscopic multicellular or multinucleate fruiting bodies which may be formed through aggregation or fusion. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi but are no longer considered part of that kingdom. Although not forming a single monophyletic clade, they are grouped within the paraphyletic group Protista. More than 900 species of slime mold occur globally. Their common name refers to part of some of these organisms' life cycles where they can appear as gelatinous "slime". This is mostly seen with the Myxogastria, which are the only macroscopic slime molds. Most slime molds are smaller than a few centimetres, but some species may reach sizes up to several square metres and masses up to 20 kilograms. They feed on microorganisms that live in any type of dead plant material. They contribute to the decomposition of dead vegetation, and feed on bacteria and fungi. For this reason, slime molds are usually found in soil, lawns, and on the forest floor, commonly on deciduous logs. In tropical areas they are also common on inflorescences and fruits, and in aerial situations (e.g., in the canopy of trees). In urban areas, they are found on mulch or in the leaf mold in rain gutters, and also grow in air conditioners, especially when the drain is blocked.

    粘菌(ねんきん、英: slime molds)とは、多細胞性の子実体を形成する能力をもつアメーバ様単細胞生物の総称。この性質は多様な系統の真核生物が示すことが知られており、単一の分類群には対応しない。狭義にはそのうち変形菌(真正粘菌)を指すが、本項目では広義の粘菌についての一般論と、我々の認識の変遷について扱う。個々の生物についてはそれぞれの項目を参照のこと。

    (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Slime_mold)