First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park (NE Poland) Acta Mycologica Article ID: 564 DOI: 10.5586/am.564 Publication History Received: 2020-06-18 Accepted: 2020-12-01 Published: 2021-06-04 Handling Editor Dorota Hilszczańska; Forest Research Institute, Poland; https://orcid.org/0000-0002- 4363-704X Funding The study was carried out as part of the tasks financed from the subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz. Competing Interests No competing interests have been declared. Copyright Notice © The Author(s) 2021. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits redistribution, commercial and noncommercial, provided that the article is properly cited. SHORT COMMUNICATION in MYCOLOGY First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park (NE Poland) Dominika Małgorzata Ślusarczyk * Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Poland * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: dominika.slusarczyk@biol.uni.lodz.pl Abstract is paper provides the first recorded data of slime molds in Biebrza National Park (NE Poland). In total, 16 species of myxomycetes belonging to nine genera were observed. Keywords myxomycetes; ecology; protected area; NE Poland 1. Introduction Myxomycetes are a small group of eukaryotic organisms that includes approximately 1,000 species worldwide. ey are characterized by a complex life cycle that is distinguished by the presence of a plasmodium stage and the formation of sporocarps (Baba & Sevindik, 2018; Lado, 2005–2021; Stephenson & Rojas, 2017). Poland has approximately 250 species of myxomycetes (Drozdowicz et al., 2003), the information on which remains fragmented. However, slime molds have been studied in several national parks (Drozdowicz, 1997, 2004, 2009, 2014; Komorowska & Drozdowicz, 1996; Magiera & Drozdowicz, 2004; Narkiewicz et al., 2013; Panek & Romański, 2010; Salamaga et al., 2016). e ecology of northeast (NE) Poland is rich and varied, with many species of plants, animals, and fungi. ey are protected in four national parks: Białowieża National Park, Narew National Park, Biebrza National Park (BbNP), and Wigry National Park. BbNP was established in 1993; it is the largest national park in Poland, covering 59.223 ha with a 66.824 ha buffer zone. e park is unique within Europe in that it encompasses an entire river valley, from its sources to its mouth. e river valley itself comprises a number of habitats preserved in an almost unchanged state, organized according to natural longitudinal and transversal zones with their corresponding plant communities as well as a large complex of fens. Some of the most predominant habitats in Biebrza Valley are peatlands with swamp forests comprised mainly of alder and birch (Dyrcz & Werpachowski, 2005). e first data on slime molds in the NE Poland region were presented by Krzemieniewska (1957, 1960). e samples were collected from the Białowieża Forest as part of a project for obtaining herbarium materials (i.e., myxomycetes) from different regions in Poland. en, Drozdowicz (2014) conducted research there, where she assigned 103 species of slime molds. A field study by Panek and Romański (2010) in Wigry National Park (NE Poland) yielded an interesting and rich collection of slime molds, including seven species new to the country. e present data on BbNP were obtained as part of a mycological study undertaken by members of the Polish Mycological Society. e results of the mycological study were previously presented by Kujawa et al. (2012, 2015) and Ruszkiewicz-Michalska et al. (2012, 2015). Acta Mycologica / 2021 / Volume 56 / Article 564 Publisher: Polish Botanical Society 1 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.564 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4363-704X https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4363-704X https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9357-4497 mailto:dominika.slusarczyk@biol.uni.lodz.pl Ślusarczyk / First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park Figure 1 Localization on observation sites in the Biebrza National Park (according to Kujawa et al., 2012, modified). 2. Material and Methods e study was carried out in the central area of BbNP (Figure 1) from August 28 to September 1, 2012, and from August 24 to August 29, 2013. e collections of slime molds were primarily acquired from two protected areas: Grzędy and Kapice. Tilio-Carpinetum forest associations were identified within these sites. e multispecies stand included Carpinus betulus, Tilia cordata, Acer platanoides, and Betula pendula. e field layer was composed of Anemone nemorosa, Stellaria holostea, Galeobdolon luteum, Aegopodium podagraria, Asarum europaeum, Pulmonaria obscura, and Lilium martagon (Dyrcz & Werpachowski, 2005). Macromorphological and micromorphological analyses were performed. e specimens were observed with a NIKON SMZ-10 binocular microscope and a NIKON Eclipse E-200 light microscope. e identification of species was carried out according to specialistic literature, e.g., Neubert, Nowotny, and Baumann (1993), Neubert, Nowotny, Baumann, and Marx (1995, 2000), Ing (1999), and Nannenga-Bremekamp (1991). e nomenclature followed those accepted by Lado (2005–2021). e specimens documented in the study were preserved at the Fungal Collection of the Herbarium Universitatis Lodziensis. 3. List of Species A total of 16 species belonging to nine genera were identified. is investigation broadly contributes to research in this area by providing the first recorded list of taxa in the BbNP. ese results show that even short-term investigations in areas of unique natural value can contribute to the development of knowledge on the diversity and distribution of slime mold species in Poland. Arcyria cinerea (Bull.) Pers., on decaying fallen twigs, Kapice district, 2012-08-28; leg. & det. DŚ Acta Mycologica / 2021 / Volume 56 / Article 564 Publisher: Polish Botanical Society 2 Ślusarczyk / First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park A. denudata (L.) Wettst., on logs, Kapice and Grzędy districts, 2012-08-28–2012-08-29, leg. & det. DŚ Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (O. F. Müll.) T. Macbr., on a strongly decayed trunk, Grzędy district, 2013-08-27, leg. M. Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, det. DŚ Diachea leucopodia (Bull.) Rostaf., on fallen small twigs, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. & det. DŚ Fuligo leviderma H. Neubert, Nowotny & K. Baumann, on fallen branches of Betula sp., Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. & det. DŚ F. luteonitens L. G. Krieglst. & Nowotny, on fallen branches of Betula sp., Grzędy district, 2013-08-27, leg. J. Szkodzik, det. DŚ Hemitrichia serpula (Scop.) Rostaf. ex Lister, on decaying trunks, Grzędy district, 2012-08-29, leg. M. Wrzosek, det. DŚ Lycogala conicum Pers., on decaying wood, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. & det. DŚ L. epidendrum (L.) Fr., on coniferous wood, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. J. Szkodzik, det. DŚ Metatrichia vesparia (Batsch) Nann.-Bremek. ex G. W. Martin & Alexop., on strongly decayed wood of deciduous tree, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. & det. DŚ Mucilago crustacea P. Micheli ex F. H. Wigg., stem of Convallaria majalis, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg., M. Wrzosek, det. DŚ Physarum bivalve Pers., on fallen leaves, Grzędy district, 2013-08-27, leg. J. Szkodzik, det. DŚ Stemonitis fusca Roth, on coniferous wood, Grzędy district, 2012-08-29, leg. & det. DŚ S. pallida Wingate, on deciduous wood, Grzędy district, 2012-08-29, leg. & det. DŚ Trichia favoginea (Batsch) Pers., on fallen branches, Kapice district, 2012-08-28, leg. & det. DŚ; Grzędy district, 2013-08-27, leg. J. Szkodzik, det. DŚ Tubifera ferruginosa (Batsch) J. F. Gmel., on decayed wood, Grzędy district, 2013-08-27, leg. M. Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, det. DŚ Acknowledgments e author would like to thank Marta Wrzosek, Małgorzata Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, and Jarosław Szkodzik, who kindly provided their myxomycetes vouchers, as well as two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. References Baba, H., & Sevindik, M. (2018). e roles of myxomycetes in ecosystems. Journal of Bacteriology & Mycology: Open Access, 6(3), 165–166. https://doi.org/10.15406/jbmoa.2018.06.00197 Drozdowicz, A. (1997). Studies on myxomycetes in the Pieniny National Park. I. New species for the PNP. Acta Mycologica, 32(2), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1997.025 Drozdowicz, A. (2004). Materiały do chorologii śluzowców w Bieszczadzkim Parku Narodowym [Materials for myxomycetes chorology in the Bieszczady National Park]. Roczniki Bieszczadzkie, 13, 261–276. Drozdowicz, A. (2009). Śluzowce [Myxomycetes]. In A. Górecki, & B. Zemanek (Eds.), Magurski Park Narodowy. Monografia Przyrodnicza [Magura National Park] (pp. 91–96). Magurski Park Narodowy; Uniwersytet Jagielloński. Drozdowicz, A. (2014). Myxomycetes of the Białowieża Forest. Białowieski Park Narodowy. Drozdowicz, A., Ronikier, A., Stojanowska, W., & Panek, E. (2003). Myxomycetes of Poland – A checklist. W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences. Dyrcz, A., & Werpachowski, C. (2005). Przyroda Biebrzańskiego Parku Narodowego. Monografia [Nature of the Biebrza National Park. A monograph]. Biebrzański Park Narodowy. Acta Mycologica / 2021 / Volume 56 / Article 564 Publisher: Polish Botanical Society 3 https://doi.org/10.15406/jbmoa.2018.06.00197 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1997.025 Ślusarczyk / First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park Ing, B. (1999). e myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland. An identification Book. e Richmond Publishing. Komorowska, H., & Drozdowicz, A. (1996). Śluzowce [Slime molds]. In Z. Mirek (Ed.), Przyroda Tatrzańskiego Parku Narodowego [e nature of the Tatra National Park] (pp. 405–412). Tatrzański Park Narodowy. Krzemieniewska, H. (1957). Spis śluzowców zebranych w latach 1955–1956 [List of slime molds collected in 1955–1956]. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 26(4), 785–811. https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.1957.041 Krzemieniewska, H. (1960). Śluzowce Polski na tle flory śluzowców europejskich [Polish slime molds against the background of European slime mold flora]. PWN. Kujawa, A., Gierczyk, B., Domian, G., Wrzosek, M., Stasińska, M., Szkodzik, J., Leski, T., Karliński, L., Pietras, M., Dynowska, M., Henel, A., Ślusarczyk, D., & Kubiak, D. (2015). Preliminary studies of fungi in the Biebrza National Park. Part IV. Macromycetes – New data and the synthesis. Acta Mycologica, 50(2), Article 1070. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1070 Kujawa, A., Wrzosek, M., Domian, G., Kędra, K., Szkodzik, J., Rudawska, M., Leski, T., Karliński, L., Pietras, M., Gierczyk, B., Dynowska, M., Ślusarczyk, D., Kałucka, I., & Ławrynowicz, M. (2012). Preliminary studies of fungi in the Biebrza National Park. II. Macromycetes. Acta Mycologica, 47(2), 235–264. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.2012.026 Lado, C. (2005–2021). An on-line nomenclatural information system of Eumycetozoa. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://eumycetozoa.com/ Magiera, A., & Drozdowicz, A. (2004). Śluzowce (myxomycetes) Babiogórskiego Parku Narodowego [Slime molds of the Babia Góra National Park]. In B. W. Wołoszyn, A. Jaworski, & J. Szwagrzyk (Eds.), Babiogórski Park Narodowy. Monografia przyrodnicza [Babia Góra National Park. Nature monograph] (pp. 315–332). W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences. Nannenga-Bremekamp, N. E. (1991). A guide to temperate myxomycetes. Biopress. Narkiewicz, C., Pusz, W., Kita, W., & Panek, E. (2013). Grzyby i śluzowce [Fungi and slime molds]. In P. Knapik, R. Migoń, & A. Raj (Eds.), Przyroda Karkonoskiego Parku Narodowego [Nature of the Karkonosze National Park] (pp. 339–358). Karkonoski Park Narodowy. Neubert, H., Nowotny, W., & Baumann, K. (1993). Die Myxomyceten Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Alpenraumes unter besonderer Berücksichtigung Österreichs [Myxomycetes in Germany and the Alpine region with special focus on Austria] (Vol. 1). Karlheinz Baumann Verlag. Neubert, H., Nowotny, W., Baumann, K., & Marx, H. (1995). Die Myxomyceten Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Alpenraumes unter besonderer Berücksichtigung Österreichs [Myxomycetes in Germany and the Alpine region with special focus on Austria] (Vol. 2). Karlheinz Baumann Verlag. Neubert, H., Nowotny, W., Baumann, K., & Marx, H. (2000). Die Myxomyceten Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Alpenraumes unter besonderer Berücksichtigung Österreichs [Myxomycetes in Germany and the Alpine region with special focus on Austria] (Vol. 3). Karlheinz Baumann Verlag. Panek, E., & Romański, M. (2010). Śluzowce Myxomycetes [Slime molds]. In L. Krzysztofiak (Ed.), Śluzowce Myxomycetes, grzyby Fungi i mszaki Bryophyta Wigierskiego Parku Narodowego [Slime molds, Fungi and Bryophytes of the Wigry National Park] (pp. 9–84). Stowarzyszenie “Człowiek i Przyroda”. Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, M., Bałazy, S., Chełkowski, J., Dynowska, M., Pawłowska, J., & Sucharzewska, E. (2015). Preliminary studies of fungi in the Biebrza National Park (NE Poland). Part III. Micromycetes – New data. Acta Mycologica, 50(2), Article 1067. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1067 Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, M., Tkaczuk, C., Dynowska, M., Sucharzewska, E., Szkodzik, J., & Wrzosek, M. (2012). Preliminary studies of fungi in the Biebrza National Park (NE Poland). I. Micromycetes. Acta Mycologica, 47(2), 213–234. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.2012.026 Salamaga, A., Grzesiak, B., Wolski, G. J., Kochanowska, M., & Kochanowski, J. (2016). Preliminary investigations into the slime moulds (Myxogastria) in the “Bory Tucholskie” National Park. Acta Mycologica, 51(1), Article 1077. https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1077 Stephenson, S. L., & Rojas, C. (2017). Introduction. In S. L. Stephenson, & C. Rojas (Eds.), Myxomycetes: Biology, systematics, biogeography, and ecology (pp. 17–20). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805089-7.00017-2 Acta Mycologica / 2021 / Volume 56 / Article 564 Publisher: Polish Botanical Society 4 https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.1957.041 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1070 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.2012.026 https://eumycetozoa.com/ https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1067 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.2012.026 https://doi.org/10.5586/am.1077 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805089-7.00017-2 First Record of Slime Molds in Biebrza National Park (NE Poland) 1 Introduction Figure 1 2 Material and Methods 3 List of Species Acknowledgments References