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European Journal of Protistology Aug 2023More than 1272 myxomycetes species have been described, accounting for more than half of all Amoebozoa species. However, the genome size of only three myxomycetes...
More than 1272 myxomycetes species have been described, accounting for more than half of all Amoebozoa species. However, the genome size of only three myxomycetes species has been reported. Therefore, we used flow cytometry to present an extensive survey and a phylogeny-based analysis of genome size and GC content evolution in 144 myxomycetes species. The genome size of myxomycetes ranged from 18.7 Mb to 470.3 Mb, and the GC content ranged from 38.7% to 70.1%. Bright-spored clade showed larger genome sizes and more intra-order genome size variations than the dark-spored clade. GC content and genome size were positively correlated in both bright-spored and dark-spored clades, and spore size was positively correlated with genome size and GC content in the bright-spored clade. We provided the first genome size data set in Myxomycetes, and our results will provide helpful information for future Myxomycetes studies, such as genome sequencing.
Topics: Genome Size; Myxomycetes; Base Composition; Phylogeny; Amoebozoa
PubMed: 37331249
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125991 -
Journal of Microbiological Methods Aug 2023
PubMed: 37301635
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2023.106758 -
Mycologia 2023Based on a study of 255 collections from four continents and four floristic kingdoms, we describe 15 new species of the genus . The new species, all morphologically...
Based on a study of 255 collections from four continents and four floristic kingdoms, we describe 15 new species of the genus . The new species, all morphologically close to , and , differ from each other by the structure of the peridium and, in some cases, also by the color of the fresh spore mass and the ornamentation of the capillitium and spores. Species delimitation is confirmed by two independently inherited molecular markers, as well as previously performed tests of reproductive isolation and genetic distances. We studied authentic material of and and found fresh specimens of these species, which allowed us to obtain molecular barcodes and substantiate the separation of new species from these taxa. We propose to retain the name for the globally most abundant species, for which we provide a more precise description and a neotypification. Two formerly described species, and , we consider to be dubious. We do not recognize the species .
Topics: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Myxomycetes; Spores, Protozoan; Species Specificity; DNA, Protozoan; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
PubMed: 37224183
DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2199109 -
Animal Cognition Nov 2023Sensing, communication, navigation, decision-making, memory and learning are key components in a standard cognitive tool-kit that enhance an animal's ability to... (Review)
Review
Sensing, communication, navigation, decision-making, memory and learning are key components in a standard cognitive tool-kit that enhance an animal's ability to successfully survive and reproduce. However, these tools are not only useful for, or accessible to, animals-they evolved long ago in simpler organisms using mechanisms which may be either unique or widely conserved across diverse taxa. In this article, I review the recent research that demonstrates these key cognitive abilities in the plasmodial slime mould Physarum polycephalum, which has emerged as a model for non-animal cognition. I discuss the benefits and limitations of comparisons drawn between neural and non-neural systems, and the implications of common mechanisms across wide taxonomic divisions. I conclude by discussing future avenues of research that will draw the most benefit from a closer integration of Physarum and animal cognition research.
Topics: Animals; Physarum polycephalum; Cognition; Learning
PubMed: 37166523
DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01782-1