What is plasmodium with respect to slime moulds?
Slime moulds are the members of the kingdom Protista. Under suitable conditions, slime moulds form an aggregation called plasmodium which may grow and spread over several feet. During unfavorable conditions, the plasmodium differentiates and forms fruiting bodies bearing spores at their tips.
What is the purpose of the Plasmodial stage?
Under suitable conditions, plasmodia differentiates and forms fruiting bodies bearing spores at their tips.
What is the difference between plasmodium and Pseudoplasmodium?
A plasmodium is a multinuclear, acellular (single large cell is acceptable answer) feeding stage of the Myxomycota. The nuclei in the plasmodium are diploid. A pseudoplasmodium is a multicellular uninucleate structure of the Cellular slime molds composed of aggregated haploid amoebae. It is not a feeding stage.
What is slime mold classified as?
Slime molds are classified in the Kingdom Protista (the Protists), despite many years of having been classified as fungi, in the class Myxomycetes.
Why are plasmodial slime molds important?
Also referred to as myxomycetes, plasmodial slime molds are commonly seen on decaying forest litter and rotting wood. They play an important role as decomposers and recyclers of nutrients in the food web. Their diet consists of the bacteria which feed on decomposing plant matter.
What is the smartest fungus?
It sounds like something out of a horror film, but it’s real: A genius slime mold that’s capable of learning, solving puzzles and making decisions is on display at the Paris Zoological Park. The slime is called Physarum polycephalum, but most people refer to it as “The Blob.”
What animals eat slime mold?
They are eaten by many small animals (there are little, shiny, brown beetles apparently feeding – and cavorting – in the pink slime mold), and some are said to be edible by humans.