Myxomycetes collected in the first phase of a North-South transect of Chile

Abstract

The results of the first sampling of myxomycetes from the North of Chile are reported in this
\npaper. The survey forms part of the project Global Biodiversity of Eumycetozoans and is the
\nfirst of a three phase north-south (more than 5,000 km), transect of the country. This phase was
\nbetween 18º and 30º South latitudes and encompassed the arid and semi-arid regions known as
\nthe Atacama Desert. A total of 24 species of Myxomycetes from 11 genera have been
\nidentified from these extreme environments, 14 are new records for Chile and 4 (Badhamia
\ndubia, Didymium synsporon, Echinostelium fragile and Physarum spectabile) are previously
\nunknown for South America. Comments are provided on morphology, distribution and
\necology.