干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The samples of bark of living plants were sampled at 71 localities in deserts of the western-north Caspian lowland (Russia) and screened with the moist chamber method for the presence of myxomycetes. Thirty seven species of myxomycetes from fourteen genera were recovered on bark of living trees, shrubs and dwarf-shrubs. Texture of the plant bark is one of the main factors that effect on the biodiversity of corticolous myxomycetes. Using canonical correspondence analysis, environmental parameters recorded within substrate sampling were related to species abundances. Species richness and evenness decrease from solid and often deeply furrowed bark (b4) and fibrous bark with a fur-like surface of fine fibers (b5) to smooth bark that breaks into flakes rolling outward in aging twigs (b2). Species occurring on the bark of plants are characterized by narrower ecological niche than the species occurring on leaf litter and decayed wood. Positive correlation was found for next pairs of species on bark of living plants Comatricha laxa-C pulchella, Macbrideola oblonga-Physarum decipiens, and Echinostelium colliculosum-Macbrideola oblonga.