Dispersal of Cellular Slime Molds by two Soil Invertebrates

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Abstract
Earthworms and pillbugs are known to feed upon substrates likely to be inhabited by cellular slime molds. Gut contents of earthworms (Aporrectodea calignosa and Octolasion tyrtaeum) and pillbugs (Armadillidium nasatum and A. vulgare) collected from northeastern Kansas were found to contain living cellular slime molds. Eleven species of dictyostelid cellular slime molds were isolated from soil samples and gut contents of soil macrofauna. Lumbricus terrestris specimens were force-fed separate spore and myxamoeba suspensions of Dictyostelium mucoroides, and the results suggest that spores can survive passage through the gut better than myxamoebae. Pillbugs were fed spores of D. purpureum and Polysphondylium violaceum, and these dictyostelids were isolated from fecal pellets. Potential benefits of short range dispersal of slime mold propagules by invertebrates are discussed.