New records of myxomycetes from high-elevation areas of Mexico and Guatemala

Abstract

Surveys of four high-elevation study areas in central Mexico and northwestern Guatemala were carried out to obtain baseline information on the species of myxomycetes present. All study areas were sampled in 2006 and 2007. Both specimens that had fruited in the field and those obtained from moist chamber cultures in the laboratory were considered. The myxomycetes recorded included seven species that represented new records for Mexico and 35 species that were new for Guatemala. Five of these were new records for the Neotropics. A list of these species and information on the microhabitats in which they occurred is provided. This relatively limited study clearly demonstrates that high-elevation areas in the Neotropics are still undersampled for myxomycetes. For the majority of countries in the region, there are still information gaps relating to distribution patterns of myxomycetes. In the context of biodiversity conservation, it is important to continue studying groups of organisms such as myxomycetes in the rapidly changing Neotropical ecosystems.