Myxomycete biodiversity revealed in the Namib desert

A survey of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) in the Namib Desert, one of the world's oldest deserts, revealed eight previously undocumented species for Africa, including two recently described from South America. This discovery underscores the unexpected biodiversity of desert microbiota, with three potential new species identified but not formally described due to insufficient material. The study highlights similarities between the Namib Sand Sea and coastal Peruvian deserts, suggesting a disjunct distribution pattern and area-specific adaptations among these microorganisms. These findings confirm that arid environments harbor notable myxomycete diversity, contributing to our understanding of their global distribution and ecological roles.

Stephenson, S. L., de Basanta, D. W., Lado, C., Estrada-Torres, A., & Darrah, R. (2019). Myxomycete biodiversity revealed in the Namib desert. South African Journal of Botany, 124, 402–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2019.06.002