What is slime mold? Slime Molds are single-celled eukaryotic organisms. The slime mold kingdom is Protista (Protist). There are several slime mold characteristics. They feed on yeast, bacteria, fungal spores, and other protists. Slime molds live as single-cell organisms or aggregate together to form multicellular organisms. The slime mold scientific name is Mycetozoa. They can range in size from a few centimeters to several square meters. When food sources are available, slime molds exist as single-celled organisms. When food is scarce, slime molds aggregate into colonies. There are an estimated 900 species in existence that occupy a wide range of habitats from forest floors, soil, logs, and temperate or tropical regions.
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For many years, the slime mold kingdom was considered Fungus. Today, because of advancements in phylogenetics, slime molds are now classified as Protists. Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary history and relationships among organisms. Researchers use DNA and morphology (physical characteristics) to study the origins and evolutionary trajectory within and among organisms. Protists and slime molds are polyphyletic. Polyphyletic means they are derived from more than one common ancestor. Essentially, protists are eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi. Eukaryotic refers to organisms with cells that contain a nucleus. Other examples of protists include amoebas, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.
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Try it nowThe two main distinctions of slime mold life cycle and slime mold reproduction are plasmodium slime molds and cellular slime molds. The next two sections will go over specifically what occurs in each of these, followed by examples of types of slime molds.
Plasmodium slime molds are typically brightly colored and form a large mass as they grow called a plasmodium. Plasmodium is a single-celled mass consisting mainly of cytoplasm with undivided plasma membranes that contain multiple nuclei. The multiple nuclei are produced by mitotic cell divisions without cytokinesis. Cytoplasm is the gelatinous substance that fills the inside of cells. Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm in cell division. The plasmodium forms and extends pseudopodia which extends through the various substrate the plasmodium is living on (leaf litter, rotting wood, decaying plant matter, soil). The pseudopodia engulfs food matter through phagocytosis. Phagocytosis is the process by which a cell engulfs food particles. When food becomes scarce, the plasmodium forms fruiting bodies for sexual reproduction. The following describes the steps included in the plasmodium life cycle and reproduction.
Cellular Slime Molds exist as single-celled, solitary organisms. When food becomes scarce, a chemical is released which signals other cellular slime molds to begin to aggregate to form an aggregate slug. The aggregate slug is a multicellular organism, separated by cellular membranes, unlike plasmodium. The following lists the stages of the life cycle and reproduction of cellular slime molds.
There are multiple types of slime molds. Slime molds are often classified as being plasmodium slime molds or cellular slime molds. Within these classes, they also are distinguished by their life cycle and reproductive phases, habitat type, and morphology (physical characteristics). Below are several slime mold examples.
The slime mold scientific name is Mycetozoa. One of the largest classes of slime molds is Myxomycetes, with 888 species and referred to as true slime molds. During the vegetative phase (asexual phase). Myxomycetes form plasmodium. In the reproductive phase, the plasmodium forms a fruiting body and releases spores through the sporangia (mentioned above). Myxomycetes exhibit a wide range of morphologies. The plasmodium can range in color from yellow, green, white, black, clear, depending on the species. In some species, the plasmodium will form puffballs. Fruiting bodies will also vary in morphology. Myxomycetes are found in a wide range of habitats all over the globe from forest floors of temperate and tropical forests. Myxomycetes also include a few cellular slime molds as well.
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Acrasia describes the class name for cellular slime molds with one order Araciales with twelve species. These slime molds exist as single-cell organisms until food becomes scarce. They will aggregate into one multicellular organism that forms fruiting bodies. The fruiting bodies are formed when cells stack on top of each other and form sporangia. The sporangia release spores; in favorable conditions (temperature, moisture) spores release haploid amoeboid cells. Arcasia resembles the cellular slime molds in Myxomycetes but has erupting pseudopodia, meaning the pseudopodia comes out in the presence of food sources and then retracts.
The family Plasmodiophoreae is a classification of cellular parasitic slime molds. Genus Plasmodiophora are obligate parasites, meaning, they need a host in order to survive. Clubroot disease is common in the cabbage and mustard family by the slime mold Plasmodiophora brassicae. Plasmodiophora brassicae enters the cells of the cabbage root system, enlarging the cells, eventually causing the roots to disintegrate which allows the spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae to be released into the soil.
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Labyrinthula contains thirteen species of slime molds. Most notable for the marine, net-shaped appearance of aggregate slugs or colonies. The net-like appearance is formed from secreted ectoplasm. Ectoplasm is a clear outer layer of the cytoplasm in a cell. The net allows the cell or colonies to stick to substrates like trees and woods and obtain nutrients through digestive enzymes. Labyrinthula species can also occupy marine habitats.
Fonticula is a cellular slime mold, most distinguishable by its volcano-shaped fruiting body. The genus Fonticula has one described species Fonticula alba.
There are many other slime mold facts not already mentioned. For example, slime molds can be a wide range of different colors except for green because they lack chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. Slime molds are efficient at editing their DNA while in the process of copying DNA to make new cells. As a result, researchers have been studying slime molds as a way to make efficient algorithms in networking and computer science.
Slime Molds are single-celled organisms that belong to the kingdom Protista (Protist). They feed on microorganisms. Slime molds live as single-cell organisms or aggregate together to form multicellular organisms. Protists and slime molds are polyphyletic. Polyphyletic means they are derived from more than one common ancestor. Essentially, protists are eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi. Slime molds can be classified into plasmodium slime molds or cellular slime molds. Plasmodium is a single-celled mass consisting mainly of cytoplasm with undivided plasma membranes that contain multiple nuclei. The multiple nuclei are produced by mitotic cell divisions without cytokinesis. Cytoplasm is the gelatinous substance that fills the inside of cells and cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm in cell division. The plasmodium uses pseudopodia to obtain nutrients. When food becomes scarce, the plasmodium forms fruiting bodies for sexual reproduction. Cellular Slime Molds exist as single-celled, solitary organisms. When food becomes scarce, a chemical is released which signals other cellular slime molds to begin to aggregate to form an aggregate slug. The aggregate slug is a multicellular organism, separated by cellular membranes. The slug forms a fruiting body that releases spores through the sporangia.
Additionally, Myxomycetes is the largest class of slime molds and is referred to as true slime molds, this group mainly contains plasmodium slime molds and a few cellular slime molds. Acrasia describes the class name for cellular slime molds. Plasmodiophora are obligate parasites, meaning, they need a host in order to survive. Clubroot disease is common in the cabbage and mustard family by the slime mold Plasmodiophora brassicae. Labyrinthula is most notable for the net-like appearance of aggregate slugs or colonies. Fonticula is a cellular slime mold, most distinguishable by its volcano-shaped fruiting body. Slime molds are efficient at editing their DNA while in the process of copying DNA to make new cells. Because of this, researchers have been studying slime molds as a way to make efficient algorithms in networking and computer science.
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The rate at which slime molds grow is dependent on the species. Some plasmodium can move up to several feet in 24 hours.
Slime molds are eukaryotic single-celled organisms in the kingdom Protista (Protists). Protists are essentially, anything that is not a plant, animal, or fungus.
No, slime molds are not harmful to humans. Unlike their name suggests, slime molds are not considered mold or fungi.
Slime molds exist everywhere on earth but the vast majority are found on forest floors, soil, logs, temperate or tropical habitats. When food becomes scarce, the slime molds will aggregate to form aggregate slugs or plasmodium, which can be visible without a microscope.
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