Microbial Biosystems 5(2) (2020) 2020.1025
Original Article
10.21608/mb.2020.45597.1025
Contents lists available at Egyptian Knowledge Bank
Microbial Biosystems
Journal homepage: http://mb.journals.ekb.eg/
An updated checklist of the myxomycetes in the Maltese islands – An overview
of an ongoing research
Stephen Mifsud*
EcoGozo Directorate, Ministry for Gozo, Victoria, Gozo, Malta..
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history
Received 18 October 2020
Received revised 4 December 2020
Accepted 6 December 2020
Available online 8 December 2020
© Mifsud, 2020
Myxomycetes are minuscule cryptogamic saprotrophs of decaying
vegetative matter, but which also feed and therefore control soil bacteria,
microfungi or fungal spores. Yet, their role is not much valued in
conservation protocols, and they are not frequently included in red lists.
Their study in the Maltese Islands commenced only in the late 20th century
by Michael Briffa, where he published 74 records. This account
amalgamates the previously published records, revised to their current
taxonomy and classification, with new records collected in this research
between 2014-2020. The resulting checklist of 96 myxomycetes occurring
in the Maltese Islands is here provided. The location, date and host of the
first record of each species are given in this annotated checklist. The 22 new
records are members of the genera Cribraria, Lycogala, Echinostelium,
Perichaena, Trichia, Badhamia, Craterium, Fuligo, Physarum, Diderma,
Didymium and Mucilago. This ongoing study on the slime moulds of the
Maltese Islands aims to collect, photograph and identify as many specimens
as possible so a better represented and updated inventory is compiled. From
the past records, experience and fieldwork gained in this research, the
myxomycetes that are considered rare or threatened are identified for
possible inclusion in a national Red Data List of cryptogams. Moreover,
collections currently deposited at the author’s Fungarium may be used to
revive populations (e.g. in moist chambers) that are very rare and hence may
be used for the conservation of native slime moulds. Finally, this work helps
further students and international experts to comprehend which
myxomycetes are currently recorded in the Maltese Islands.
Corresponding Editor:
Mouchacca J
Balbool BA
Abdel-Azeem AM
Keywords
Slime moulds
checklist
Malta
Central Mediterranean region
Published by Arab Society for Fungal Conservation
Introduction
The classification of Myxomycetes, or as commonly
known, slime moulds, have for a long-time baffled
biologists and taxonomists mostly for their metamorphic
life cycle. In the past, they have been variously classified
as fungi, animals, or less frequently, as plants.
* Corresponding author
E-mail address: info@maltawildplants.com
(Stephen Mifsud)
Myxomycetes undergo two completely different forms
or phases within their life cycle, where initially they
possess a protozoic phase in the form of a mucoid mobile
mould known as a plasmodium. It is composed of an
aggregate of flagellate amoeba and which, as a whole, it
Mifsud, 2020
can travel slowly to short distances. When mature, the
plasmodia develop into a dry fungal-like fruiting phase
referred to as the myxocarp which often resembles a small
gasteroid fungus (Martin and Alexopolos 1969; Poulain et
al. 2011).
Indeed, in the 18th and the beginning of the
19thcentury, scientists considered slime moulds to be small
species of gasteromycetes within the kingdom of fungi, and
thus they have been studied mostly by mycologists. At last,
Link (1833) was the first to classify slime moulds in an own
group that he coined as Myxomycetes – literally meaning
mucoid fungi (Martin and Alexopolos 1969; Stephenson
and Schnitler 2017). Later on, other scientists insisted that
they are fungi-like protozoans instead of fungi, and
nowadays, their classification within the ameboid protozoa
(the supergroup Amoebozoa) is accepted by most
myxomycologists. They are currently grouped in their own
infraphylum called Mycetozoa (= fungi animals).
However, molecular data have still not settled the ancestral
seating of the slime moulds within the Eukaryote domain
(Stephenson and Schnittler 2017).
The pioneer botanists and naturalists that studied the
Maltese natural history have covered a great part of the
vegetative biodiversity, including many cryptogams
growing in the Maltese Islands, namely the vascular flora,
ferns, fungi (especially the microfungi), lichens and mosses
(e.g. Grech Delicata 1853; Sommier and Caruana Gatto
1915; Saccardo 1911, 1914 and 1915; Borg 1927 amongst
others). Unexplainably, however, myxomycetes have been
neglected during this pioneer period. The first study was
that of the late Michael Briffa, who published his findings
during the very end of the 20th century. During the
fieldwork he carried out between 1994 to 1997, Briffa
(1998) recorded 71 taxa of slime moulds from the Maltese
Islands. In a consequent update (Briffa et al. 2000), three
new records had been added. The study of myxomycetes
resumed by the present author resulted in several new
records, four of which had already been reported (Mifsud
2017a, b).
This work aims to combine all the previously published
records (Briffa and Mifsud op. cit.) with new records found
by the author to provide an updated checklist of
Myxogastria for the Maltese Islands using the latest
classification according to Poulain et al. (2011). It is a part
of an ongoing project to research local myxogastria,
hopefully leading to some protection and conservation of
some rare species, albeit slime moulds are often neglected
at a legal level primarily of their minute size, and because
they are neither pathogenic nor of ecological importance.
A complete (record) list of all published records and
tentative attempts to determine which slime moulds are rare
will follow this work. Moreover, several unidentified
materials collected by the present author (and possibly by
10
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
Michael Briffa) will be investigated thoroughly in future
work.
Materials & Methods
The 78 published records of slime moulds from the Maltese
islands - 71 in Briffa (1998); three in Briffa et al. (2000),
two in Mifsud (2017a), and another two in Mifsud (2017b)
- have been combined with 17 new records found by the
author during the period 2014–2020. Their taxa have been
revised according to the nomenclature of MycoBank
(2020), which in turn are classified according to the
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and
plants.
The identification of specimens was based on the gross
morphology of the fruiting bodies in situ as well as by the
microscopic analysis of the collected myxocarps using a
high magnification of up to × 1000 of a Carl Zeiss AxioLab
light microscope mounted in water, 3% KOH or
mycological stains (namely 1% Congo Red and 1% Cotton
Blue). Calibrated measurements up to a resolution of 0.1um
could be taken using photomicrographs superimposed with
a reticule's calibrated scale and with the software Pixemetre
V5.1 by Alan Henriot.
Identification was quite successful using keys by
Poulain et al. (2011) and Martin and Alexopolos (1969)
amongst other keys found online, but occasionally, further
clarifications where achieved from specific literature or
consultation with experts on social media or online flora.
The resulting checklist only gives data about the first
record of each species, and so it does not include
information about all the material recorded or examined.
Hence, this checklist is not suitable for distributional or
other quantitative purposes. An annotated and more
elaborate checklist is planned in the coming years. Each
species is enumerated and their listing is given in order of
classification according to Mycobank (2020), hence
initiating the checklist with the order Protosteliales
followed by Liceales, Echinostelliales, Trichiales,
Physarales and Stemonitales and then the corresponding
subsequent families. Species are then sorted alphabetically.
For each entry (species) the following information is given:
species name, author citation, reference mycobank number,
locality and date of the first record, habitat or host where it
was found growing and the first publication unless it is a
new record first published in this work. For the last datum,
MB stands for Michael Briffa and SM for Stephen Mifsud,
for example “MB, 1998” corresponds to the cited reference
‘Briffa (1998)’. The specimens determined by Briffa
(1998) and Briffa et al. (2000) has not been analysed or
verified in this account, but since a majority of Briffa’s
material was at that time already been examined and
determined by a number of experts (Briffa 1998) most of
Mifsud, 2020
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
them are here assumed to be reliable. Images of some of
the new records are given and captioned accordingly.
Għajn il-kbira (03-Feb-1997) - Unidentified dead branch
(MB, 1998).
Results
An updated checklist of Mycetozoa
8. Enteridium splendens (Morgan) T. Macbr. [MB
#222384]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
Phylum (Supergroup): Amoebozoa
Infraphylum: Mycetozoa
Class: PROTOSTELIOMYCETES
Order: Protosteliales
Family: Ceratiomyxaceae
1. Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (O.F. Müll.) T. Macbr. [MB
#232106]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
Remark: Recent phylogeny suggest the exclusion of
Ceratiomyxaceae from the Myxogastria, and hence making
Mycetozoa a completely monophyletic group of five orders
(Kretzschmar et al. 2015) morphologically bound by
endogenic spore formation (Stephenson and Schnittler,
2017). At present, this species is retained within the
checklist to include all taxa recorded in the past as
myxomycetes
Class: MYXOMYCETES (MYXOGASTRIA)
Order: I. Liceales
Family: Liceaceae
2. Licea variabilis Schrad. [MB #175383]
Qormi (06-Nov-1983) - Dead leaves of unknown species
(MB, 1998).
Family: Cribrariaceae
3. Cribraria argillacea (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) Pers. [MB
#248562]
Buskett (28-Oct-1997) - Dead stump of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
4. Cribraria cancellata (Batsch) Nann.-Bremek. [MB
#312279]
Għajn il-kbira (30-Oct-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
5. Cribraria intricata Schrad. [MB #148753]
Menzja Farm House (11-Nov-2019) - On decaying bark of
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in a private garden (new record).
6. Cribraria violacea Rex [MB #242480]
Għajn il-kbira (27-Nov-1997) - Unidentified stem close to
Ulmus canescens (MB, 1998).
Family: Reticulariaceae
7. Dictydiaethalium plumbeum (Schumach.) Rostaf. [MB
#119378]
11
9. Lycogala confusum Nann.-Bremek. ex Ing [MB
#450203]
Xewkija (Ulysses Garden) (02-Dec-2016) - Animal
bedding and manure dumped on soil (SM, 2017b).
10. Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fr. [MB #205910]
Ballut tal-Wardija (29-Sep-1995) - Fallen branches of
Quercus ilex (MB, 1998).
11. Lycogala exiguum Morgan [MB #212013]
Wied il-Lunzjata (Gozo) (29-Oct-2020) - On a piece of
wood of some old trashed furniture (new record).
12. Lycogala flavofuscum (Ehrenb.) Rostaf. [MB #356737]
Wied il-Luq (01-Oct-1985) - Living trunk of Fraxinus
angustifolia (MB, 1998).
13. Reticularia jurana Meyl. [MB #189345]
Imġiebaħ (24-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
14. Tubifera microsperma (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) G.W.
Martin [MB #371707]
Buskett (28-Oct-1997) - Dead stump of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
Order: II. Echinostelliales
Family: Echinostellaceae
15. Echinostelium colliculosum K.D. Whitney & H.W.
Keller [MB #113769]
originally collected (n.loc.) and determined by H. Mueller
and subsequently grown in moist chamber (01-May-1995)
by Michael Briffa (MB, 1998).
16. Echinostelium minutum de Bary [MB #184024]
Buskett (31/11/2017) - Dead twigs of Populus alba (new
record).
Order: III. Trichiales
Family: Arcyriaceae
17. Arcyria cinerea (Bull.) Pers. [MB #174952]
Buskett (05-Jan-1996) - Hymenial surface of Ganoderma
lucidum (MB, 1998).
Mifsud, 2020
18. Arcyria denudata (L.) Wettst. [MB #120316]
Għajn il-kbira (10-Nov-1995) - Dead remains of Prunus sp.
(MB, 1998).
19. Arcyria incarnata (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) [MB #234244]
Imġiebaħ (24-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Quercus ilex
(MB, 1998).
20. Arcyria insignis Kalchbr. & Cooke [MB #162948]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead bark of Laurus nobilis
(MB, 1998).
21. Arcyria major (G. Lister) Ing [MB #326444]
Imġiebaħ (04-Feb-1999) - Dead branch of Quercus ilex
(MB, 2000).
22. Arcyria minuta Buchet [MB #253365]
Ballut tal-Wardija (23-Sep-1996) - Dead branch of
Quercus ilex (MB, 1998).
23. Arcyria nutans (Bull.) Grev. [MB #245049]
Wied il-Lunzjata (Gozo) (09-Oct-2020) - Dead branch of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
24. Arcyria obvelata (Oeder) Onsberg [MB #308918]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
25. Arcyria oerstedii Rostaf. [MB #141739]
Għajn il-kbira (10-Nov-1995) - Decaying wood of Prunus
sp. (MB, 1998).
26. Arcyria pomiformis (Leers) Rostaf. [MB #145668]
Ballut tal-Wardija (18-Dec-1995) - On dead wood (MB,
1998).
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
31. Perichaena vermicularis (Schwein.) Rostaf. [MB
#247811]
Wied Imġarr ix-Xini (10-Dec-2017) - Dead twig of Rubus
ulmifolius (new record).
Family: Trichiaceae
32. Trichia affinis de Bary [MB #185554]
Wied Binġemma (15-Feb-2015) - Dead branch of Olea
europaea (SM, 2017a).
33. Trichia contorta G.H. Otth [MB #147103]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Jan-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
34. Trichia contorta var. inconspicua (Rostaf.) Lister [MB
#139012]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Jan-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
35. Trichia decipiens (Pers.) T. Macbr. [MB #164198]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Mar-1996) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
36. Trichia lutescens (Lister) Lister [MB #174192]
Ballut tal-Wardija (16-Jan-1996) - Dead branch of Quercus
ilex (MB, 1998).
37. Trichia persimilis P. Karst. [MB #178360]
Ballut tal-Wardija (23-Sep-1996) - Dead branch of Olea
europaea (MB, 1998).
38. Trichia varia (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) Pers. [MB #202729]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Mar-1996) - Dead wood of unknown
species (MB, 1998).
27. Metatrichia vesparium (Batsch) Nann.-Bremek. [MB
#317607]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Jan-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
Order: IV. Physarales
Family: Physaraceae
39. Badhamia foliicola Lister [MB #238735]
Ballut tal-Wardija (18-Dec-1995) - Dead leaves of
Ceratonia siliqua (MB, 1998).
28. Perichaena chrysosperma (Curr.) Lister [MB #118849]
Wied l-Imġarr (Gozo) (14-Feb-2019) - Bark of Ailanthus
altissima (new record).
40. Badhamia melanospora Speg. [MB #248392]
Wied Riħana (Gozo) (11-Jan-2018) - Dead woody stems
of unknown species (new record).
29. Perichaena corticalis (Batsch) Rostaf. [MB #148902]
Buskett (16-Oct-1995) - Unknown fallen trunk (MB,
1998).
41. Badhamia panicea (Fr.) Rostaf [MB #243848]
Wied Imġarr ix-Xini (07-Dec-2019) - Dead wood of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
30. Perichaena depressa Lib. [MB #149011]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Mar-1996) - Dead wood of unknown
species (MB, 1998).
42. Badhamia utricularis (Bull.) Berk. [MB #147913]
Għajn il-kbira (15-Nov-1994) - Dead branch of Prunus sp.
(MB, 1998).
12
Mifsud, 2020
43. Craterium aureonucleatum Nann.-Bremek. [MB
#329225]
Wied Biljun (Gozo) (31-Jan-2019) - Dead leaves of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
44. Craterium aureum (Schumach.) Rostaf4. [MB
#181399]
Ballut tal-Wardija (13-Nov-1995) - Dead branch of Prunus
sp. (MB, 1998).
45. Craterium leucocephalum (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) Ditmar
[MB #192765]
Imġiebaħ (16-Jan-1997) - Dead leaves of Quercus ilex
(MB, 1998).
46. Craterium rubronodum Lister [MB #181561]
Imġiebaħ (21-Nov-1997) - Leaf litter of Quercus ilex (MB,
1998).
47. Fuligo gyrosa (Rostaf.) E. Jahn [MB #241604]
Wied Babu (13-Feb-1997) - Dead twig of Rubus ulmifolius
(MB, 1998).
48. Fuligo intermedia T. Macbr. [MB #314194]
Ballut tal-Wardija (23-Oct-2017) - Leaf litter of Pinus
halepensis (new record).
49. Fuligo septica (L.) F.H. Wigg. var. flava (Pers.)
Morgan [MB #149977]
Buskett (30-Sep-2014) – Sticks and dry matter of
herbaceous wild plants in fallow fields (new record).
50. Leocarpus fragilis (Dicks.) Rostaf. [MB #207070]
Imġiebaħ (23-Dec-1994) - Debris of Quercus ilex (MB,
1998).
51. Lignydium licheniforme (Szabó ex Schwein.) Kuntze
[MB #526918]
Wied Babu (17-Mar-1997) - Decaying legume of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
52. Physarum album (Bull.) Chevall. [MB #249444]
Wied il-Lunzjata (Gozo) (15-Jan-2019) - On bark of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
53. Physarum bitectum G. Lister [MB #434174]
Wied Babu (13-Feb-1997) - Dead wood of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
54. Physarum bogoriense Racib. [MB #162327]
Maqluba (01-Mar-1996) - Moss growing on dead wood
(MB, 1998).
13
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
55. Physarum cinereum (Batsch) Pers. [MB #166471]
Imġiebaħ (10-Dec-1993) - Dead leaves of unknown species
(MB, 1998).
56. Physarum compressum Alb. & Schwein. [MB
#261574]
Wied Babu (13-Feb-1997) - Dead herbacious stem of
unknown species (MB, 1998).
57. Physarum daamsii Nann.-Bremek. [MB #320444]
Xewkija (Ulysses Garden) (02-Dec-2016) - Animal
bedding and manure dumped on soil (SM, 2017b).
58. Physarum echinosporum Lister, J. [MB #210888]
Imġiebaħ (21-Nov-1997) - Dead wood of Quercus ilex
(MB, 1998).
59. Physarum leucophaeum Fr. & Palmquist [MB
#210916]
Għajn il-kbira (28-Dec-1993) - Stump of Prunus sp. (MB,
1998).
60. Physarum perfectum M. Peck [MB #237448]
Wied Babu (13-Feb-1997) - Dead leaves of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
61. Physarum plicatum Nann.-Bremek. & Y. Yamam. [MB
#134224]
Wied Imġarr ix-Xini (01-Dec-2019) - Dead leaves of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
62. Physarum pusillum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) G. Lister
[MB #121249]
Wied Babu (17-Mar-1997) - Dead wood of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
63. Physarum straminipes Lister [MB #141039]
Xewkija (Ulysses Garden) (02-Dec-2016) - Animal
bedding and manure dumped on soil (new record).
64. Physarum viride (Bull.) Pers. [MB #239928]
Buskett (23-Mar-1996) - Dead wood of Carya illinoinensis
(MB, 1998).
Family: Didymaceae
65. Diderma cingulatum Nann.-Bremek., [MB #111418]
Wied Binġemma (12-Mar-2019) - On dead wood of Olea
europaea (new record).
66. Diderma hemisphaericum (Bull.) Hornem. [MB
#120603]
Maqluba (10-Feb-1985) - Dead leaves of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
Mifsud, 2020
67. Diderma spumarioides (Fr. & Palmquist) Fr. [MB
#214417]
Ballut tal-Wardija (17-Jan-1997) - Herbacious stem of
unknown origin (MB, 1998).
68. Didymium clavus (Alb. & Schwein.) Rabenh. [MB
#160185]
Ballut tal-Wardija (17-Jan-1997) - Dead leaves of
unknown species (MB, 1998).
69. Didymium bahiense var. europaeum Nann.-Bremek.
[MB #355747]
Wied Mġarr ix-Xini (14-Nov-2020) - Petiole of Acanthus
mollis and herbaceous leaf litter in a damp valley bed (new
record).
70. Didymium difforme (Pers.) Gray [MB #176195]
Għajn il-kbira (12-Feb-1996) - Dead leaves of Populus
alba (MB, 1998).
71. Didymium iridis (Ditmar) Fr. [MB #157402]
Wied Babu (20-Feb-1997) - Decaying legume of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
72. Didymium leucopus (Link) Fr. [MB #168424]
Ballut tal-Wardija (25-Oct-1995) - Dead leaves of
unknown species (MB, 1998).
73. Didymium macrospermum Rostaf. [MB #244877]
Wied Binġemma (12-Mar-2019) - Leaf litter of Olea
europaea (new record).
74. Didymium melanospermum (Pers.) T. Macbr. [MB
#122848]
Wied Babu (20-Feb-1997) - Dead leaves of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
75. Didymium melleum Berkeley & Broome [MB #239849]
Ballut tal-Wardija (13-Nov-1995) - Dead leaves of
Quercus ilex (MB, 1998).
76. Didymium minus (Lister) Morgan [MB #250167]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Mar-1996) - Dead leaves of Eriobotrya
japonica (MB, 1998).
77. Didymium nigripes (Link) Fr. [MB #242247]
Għajn il-kbira (02-Oct-1995) - Dead leaves of unknown
species (MB, 1998).
78. Didymium quitense (Pat.) Torrend [MB #247096]
Maqluba (19-Feb-1999) - Dead wood of Punica granatum
(MB, 1998). Remark: It was reported again from same
14
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
locality on leaf litter of Ceratonia siliqua (Briffa et al.
2000)
79. Didymium squamulosum (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. &
Palmquist [MB #181562]
Ballut tal-Wardija (13-Nov-1995) - Dead leaves of
Ceratonia siliqua (MB, 1998).
80. Didymium trachysporum G. Lister [MB #280481]
Maqluba (17-Mar-1997) - Dead wood of Laurus nobilis
(MB, 1998).
81. Didymium verrucisporum A.L. Welden [MB #544182]
Wied Imġarr ix-Xini (07-Dec-2019) - Decaying legume of
Ceratonia siliqua (new record).
82. Mucilago crustacea P. Micheli ex F.H. Wigg. [MB
#434180]
Munxar (10-Jan-2016) - Grassy weeds in a public garden
(SM, 2017a).
Class: DICTYOSTELIOMYCETES
Order: V. Stemonitales
Family: Comatrichaceae
83. Comatricha anomala Rammeloo [MB #311564]
Ballut tal-Wardija (27-Aug-1997) - Dead wood of Quercus
ilex (MB, 1998).
84. Comatricha laxa Rostaf. [MB #185323]
Wied Babu (29-Sep-1997) - Dead wood of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 2000).
85. Comatricha nigra (Pers. ex J.F. Gmel.) J. Schröt [MB
#188390]
Għajn il-kbira (06-Feb-1992) - Stump of Prunus sp. (MB,
1998).
86. Comatricha tenerrima (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) G. Lister
[MB #279965]
Għajn il-kbira (06-Nov-1997) - Stem of Acanthus mollis
(MB, 1998).
Family: Stemonitaceae
87. Diachea leucopodia (Bull.) Rostaf. [MB #120783]
Imġiebaħ (10-Jan-1985) - Leaves of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
88. Enerthenema papillatum (Pers.) Rostaf. [MB #249215]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
89. Lamproderma scintillans (Berk. & Broome) Morgan
[MB #121369]
Mifsud, 2020
Għajn il-kbira (06-Nov-1997) - Twig and leaf of Hedera
helix (MB, 1998).
90. Stemonitis flavogenita E. Jahn [MB #120472]
Għajn il-kbira (02-Oct-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
91. Stemonitis fusca Roth. [MB #240909]
Wied Babu (13-Feb-1997) - Dead branch of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 1998).
92. Stemonitis smithii T. Macbr. [MB #222156]
Maqluba (08-Oct-1996) - Dead branch of Ceratonia siliqua
(MB, 1998).
93. Stemonitis splendens Rostaf. [MB #230930]
Buskett (10-Nov-1994) - Fallen branches of Carya
illinoinensis (MB, 1998).
94. Stemonitis virginiensis Rex [MB #224407]
Maqluba (01-Mar-1996) - Dead wood of unknown species
(MB, 1998).
95. Stemonitopsis hyperopta (Meyl.) Nann.-Bremek. [MB
#324056]
Wied Qirda (12-Feb-1998) - Dead wood of Ceratonia
siliqua (MB, 2000).
96. Stemonitopsis typhina (F.H. Wigg.) Nann.-Bremek.
[MB #324060]
Għajn il-kbira (23-Jan-1995) - Dead wood of Populus alba
(MB, 1998).
Known hosts of Slime Mould from the Maltese islands
The living or dead material of several trees or plants that
slime moulds have been recorded allow to give an insight
of the most important host species of myxomycetes in
Malta. This should provide further strength why these
hosts, mostly native trees, should be protected, since they
are direct natural habitats of myxomycetes. Table 1 lists
the hosts and the species of slime moulds (using the
reference number given in the checklist above) and the type
of substrate they were found on (Table 1).
15
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
Discussion
At present, 93 species of Myxomycetes were recorded from
the Maltese Islands. This is most likely an underrepresented number of the actual species present in Malta
due to insufficient fieldwork. However, it is not expected
to level up with neighbouring territories such as Sicily,
Tunisia, or the Aegean islands. Apart from the smaller
territorial size, the woody vegetation of the Maltese Islands
is also restricted. Foremostly, the wooded and riparian
areas are limited in size, and greatly disturbed by
anthropogenic activities of an overpopulated country. In
addition, the phanerophytes in these wooded habitats are
not particularly diverse. Malta lacks mountainous habitats
and wooded hills, whereas the valley is relatively smaller.
Secondly, from a climatic point of view, the wet season is
only six months long, typically October to March, and the
coldest months can be attributed to mid-December, January
and February only, all of which are shorter or less abundant
from
the
aforementioned
territories
(https://www.climatestotravel.com).
Hence,
no
myxomycetes are expected to be sighted in the dry months
of April to September.
Nevertheless, these islands offer an interesting array of
species from 11 families, the most dominant being limebearing families such as Physaraceae (26 species),
Didymiaceae (18 species) and Arcyriaceae (15 species).
Amongst the limeless families, Trichiaceae and
Stemonitaceae are the most frequent, represented by seven
and ten species, respectively (Fig.1)
Another relating problem is that the Myxomycetes, like
several other cryptogams, are not appreciated or seriously
protected in Malta. For example, the rehabilitation and
conservation projects occurring at Buskett woodland, and
recently at Wied il-Fiddien and Wied il-Qlejgħa,
incorporated the removal of herbaceous plants and the
understory of the valley bed, including leaf litter, fallen
branches and decaying organic matter (Fig. 2). Project
leaders and environmental authorities considered this
organic matter as dirt and debris that needs to be cleaned
up for making way to aesthetically eye-pleasing pathways
for the public. Huge losses in cryptogamic biodiversity are
inevitable.
Mifsud, 2020
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
Table 1 List of substrates that Myxomycetes were collected from Malta
Species
Ceratonia siliqua L.
Quercus ilex L.
Populus alba L.
Olea europaea L.
Prunus sp.
Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch.
Laurus nobilis L.
Rubus ulmifolius Schott.
Acanthus mollis L.
Ailanthus altissima L.
Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.
Hedera helix L.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Pinus halepensis Mill.
Moss
Ganoderma lucidum (fungus)
Substrate
Dead leaves
Dead wood or branches
Fallen Legumes
Dead leaves
Dead twigs or wood
Dead leaves
Dead twigs or wood
Dead leaves
Dead wood
Dead wood
Dead wood
Dead twigs or branches
Leaves
Bark of living tree
Leaf litter
Bark of living tree
Leaves
Dead bark
Leaf litter
Hymenial surface
Fig 1. Distribution of families of Myxomycetes in the Maltese islands.
16
Species code
39,43,60,61,66,74,78,79,87
1,3,8,13,14,23,24,41,52,53,
62,84,88,91,92,95
51,71,81
45,46,75
10,19,21,22,36,50,83
4,16,27,33,34,35,90,96
70
32,37,65
73
18,25,42,44,59,85
64,93
20,80
31,47
68,86
28
76
12
89
5
46
54
17
Mifsud, 2020
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
Fig 2. Valley bed and understory scraped off in a valley rehabilitation project at Wied il-Fiddien
Fig 3. Images of some new records of Myxomycetes from the Maltese Islands: 1A. Cribaria intricata - Menzja Farm
House, Ta’ Sannat, Gozo (11/11/2019); 1B. Lycogala confusum - Ulysses Garden, Xewkija, Gozo (02/12/2016); 1C.
Perichaena chrysosperma - Wied l-Imġarr, Għajnsielem, Gozo (14/02/2019); 1D. Trichia affinis - Wied Binġemma,
Nadur, Gozo (15/02/2015); 1E. - Badhamia melanospora - Wied Riħana, Nadur, Gozo (11/01/2018); 1F. Perichaena
vermicularis - Wied l-Imġarr ix-Xini, Xewkija, Gozo (10/12/2017); 1G. - Badhamia panicea Wied l-Imġarr ix-Xini,
Xewkija, Gozo (07/12/2019); 1H. Craterium aureonucleatum - Wied Biljun, Qala, Gozo (31/01/2019); 1I. Fuligo
intermedia - Ballut tal-Wardija, San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta (23/10/2017).
18
Mifsud, 2020
Microbial Biosystems 5(2)-2020
Fig 4. Images of some new records of Myxomycetes from the Maltese Islands: 2A. Physarum album - Wied il-Lunzjata,
Kerċem, Gozo (15/01/2019); 2B. Physarum plicatum - Wied l-Imġarr ix-Xini, Xewkija, Gozo (01/12/2019); 2C. Physarum
straminipes - Ulysses Garden, Xewkija, Gozo (02/12/2016); 2D. Diderma cingulatum - Wied Binġemma, Nadur, Gozo
(12/03/2019); 2E. Didymium macrospermum - Wied Binġemma, Nadur, Gozo (12/03/2019); 2F. Didymium verrucisporum
- Wied l-Imġarr ix-Xini, Xewkija, Gozo (07/12/2019); 2G. Fuligo septica var. flava – Wied l-Egħzien, Xagħra, Gozo
(27/9/2020), first recorded from il-Buskett, Siġġiewi, Malta (30/9/2014) but no close-up photos are available of this record.
Another important aspect is that a few species recorded
in Malta are first records for Europe or the Mediterranean
region (Briffa 1998; Briffa et al. 2000). Due to their
geographic position, the Maltese Islands act as biome
bridges with North Africa and Eastern Europe. Populations
of some myxomycetes may extend from the eastern
Mediterranean region or the African continent up to Malta,
making it an important station for the diversity of
cryptogams at an European level.
Conclusions
The checklist of myxomycetes of the Maltese Islands has
been updated from 74 records (Briffa 1998; Briffa et al.
18
2000) to 96 records from six years of fieldwork by the
present author. This updated checklist is the first step of an
ongoing project to research and narrow the knowledge gap
of myxomycetes on the Maltese Islands, after the sterling
work that Michael Briffa commenced the at the end of the
20th century. The study reported here is not based on any
intensive fieldwork, but more or less ad-hoc visits or
encounters during botanical or mycological surveys. More
focused surveys and studies would surely reveal more
species of myxomycetes in the Maltese Islands and
hopefully capture the attention of stakeholders so that the
habitat of vulnerable species are protected.
Mifsud, 2020
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