The most wonderful creations can be admired in the forest. An orange mushroom looks like a tangerine in the forest. Or among the thousands of beech leaves on one beech leaf, little men ?? with a hat on. Standing on a stalk. So wonderful and so beautiful. Slime molds with mysterious names like witch butter or silver tree kisses. Many types of slime molds that we can encounter in the Dutch forests.
- Slime molds (Acrasiomycota)
- Behavior of the slime mold
- No fungus
- The kingdom of the protists (Protoctista)
Slime molds (Acrasiomycota)
The name slime molds still indicates that they belong to the realm of fungi. However, they have nothing to do with the mushrooms that fall under the realm of fungi, research shows. Slime molds are therefore no longer considered part of the fungus kingdom. Together with other single-celled organisms (protists), such as amoebas and algae, they form the kingdom of the protists (Protoctista).
Behavior of the slime mold
Slime molds are common, but most are unremarkable. Slime molds may not have an attractive name, but they are often small miracles because of their shapes, colors and behavior. They usually live on rotting wood, dead leaves or dark, damp areas. A slime mold consists of a mass of protoplasm (the plasmodium) for most of its life and ends with a fruiting body, in which spores develop for reproduction and distribution. The plasmodium covered with a week of plasma body ‘moves’ over the tree trunk or leaf and feeds on bacteria and fungi. While crawling, leaving a slimy creep track just like a snail. A slime mold is slimy to the touch, which explains the name slime mold. They change place and shape. Because after sufficient food intake and sometimes under the influence of light, a plasmodium proceeds to the formation of one or more large or small fruit bodies (often with stems.) When possible, it is interesting to follow the progress every day. Especially because they only have a short life.
No fungus
In the past, slime molds were classified as fungi on the basis of their appearance. Since it has been possible to investigate the similarities with the help of DNA, it is only clear that slime molds and fungi do not have a direct common ancestor. The discussion has been: do slime molds belong to the group of fungi? And then what is the difference between the mushrooms belonging to the realm of fungi and slime molds? Is there any difference? Yes, there is a difference. Namely:
- The cell wall. Mushrooms have a cell wall that consists of chitin (a building material), which slime molds do not have.
- To walk. Slime molds can move. They even leave a shiny pearl-like trail. The creep track, which mushrooms don’t do.
- Navigation system. Slime molds have some sort of navigation system. Scientists have discovered that the slime that the slime molds leave behind (the creep track) works like a navigation system. That the fungus knows it’s already been there. A kind of primitive memory.
The only thing in common is that reproduction is done by spores. The slime molds can be noticed by often striking colors. To give it the correct name, the microscope is indispensable for many slime molds.
The kingdom of the protists (Protoctista)
The slime molds belong to the unicellular organisms (Eukaryote) and to the kingdom Protoctista (protists or unicellular organisms). Including the amoebas, many types of algae and algae. The fungus-like protists are grouped into three subgroups:
- the true (or plasmodial) slime molds (Myxomycotes),
- the cellular (or pseudoplasmodial) slime molds (Acrasiomycota)
- the water slime molds (Hydromyxomycetes).
Plasmodial slime molds
The plasmodial slime molds or true slime molds (Myxomycota or Myxogastria) belong to the tribe of the Amoebae and form a subclass of the slime molds. They consist of a creeping unit of fused cells with nuclei. There are about 10,000 nuclei. It often looks like someone or something has thrown out the stomach contents. The spores present provide new single-celled organisms. The mass is often bright in color such as:
- witch butter;
- ruddy tube pillow.
Plasmodial slime molds can be found all year round. Especially in warm, humid periods they start to create spores. As the spores ripen, they change color and the fruit body changes with it.
Cellular slime molds
In the cellular slime molds (Acrasiomycota or Dictyostelia) the cells clump together, but remain individually recognizable. These slime molds start out as amoeba-like creatures. Eating is central until the food is finished. All individuals will then unite into one whole. A number (20%) of the cells together form a stalk and the rest then forms a ball or rod within which the spores are made.
Water slime fungi
The water slime molds (Hydromyxomycetes) live in salt water. They resemble a large amoeba and with their soft appearance, they creep behind a slimy creep trail on any material present in the water. When the spores are ripe, the plasma body bursts and is scattered through the water. The cycle starts again in a suitable place.