Of Biodiversity, Boundaries, and Distribution: The Myxomycetes of the Philippines and Beyond

Author

Sittie Aisha Bustamante Macabago, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow

Date of Graduation

1-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Steven L. Stephenson

Committee Member

Frederick W. Spiegel

Second Committee Member

Allen L. Szalanski

Third Committee Member

J. D. Willson

Keywords

Biodiversity, Myxomycetes, Philippines, Slime molds, Species distribution modeling, Spore-bearing protists

Abstract

This dissertation contains a compilation of independently performed studies primarily focusing on the myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) from the Philippines and integrating local and worldwide data to demonstrate regional and global trends. The major themes include the following: (I) a review of the diverse group of spore-producing amoeboid protists, including the myxomycetes; (II-IV) diversity assessments in three different groups of islands in the Philippine archipelago; (V) mapping the myxomycetes found in the Philippines for databasing and analyzing the geocoded data; (VI) a study on regional boundaries, including the Philippines, using myxomycete species composition; and, (VII) creating a global species distribution model of the ubiquitous myxomycete morphospecies, Arcyria cinerea, and predicting future distributions under different climate scenarios.

Citation

Macabago, S. B. (2021). Of Biodiversity, Boundaries, and Distribution: The Myxomycetes of the Philippines and Beyond. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/4157