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Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastria) are a group of amoeboid protists occurring throughout the world; they have the highest diversity documented in terrestrial ecosystems. Myxomycete spores are dispersed by wind and animals, enabling spores to reach a suitable habitat for germination. Although myxomycetes have been recorded in every terrestrial ecosystem (e.g., tropical, temperate and boreal forests; forest tundra; deserts; alpine snowbanks), these organisms are not equally abundant in all forest types. Within forests, myxomycete species inhabit many different substrata (microhabitats), including bark, litter, dung, inflorescences, soil, fungi, and even the integument of animals. Moreover, many environmental factors (e.g., temperature, moisture, substratum pH, the water-holding capacity of the substratum, and the epiphytes of the substratum) interact to influence the occurrence and distribution of myxomycetes.