Moulds

Moulds

In the damp recesses of forests, the mysterious realm of slime moulds unfolds, captivating the imagination with its bizarre forms and enigmatic behaviors. Often mistaken for fungi or plants, slime moulds belong to a unique group of organisms known as protists, distinct from both plants and animals. Despite their humble appearance, slime moulds exhibit remarkable ecological roles, adaptive strategies, and contributions to scientific inquiry. In this article, we embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of slime moulds, shedding light on their biology, diversity, and ecological significance.Diversity and Distribution: Slime moulds, also known as myxomycetes, represent a diverse and widespread group of organisms comprising over 900 described species worldwide. These peculiar organisms inhabit a variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including forests, grasslands, decaying logs, and leaf litter. Slime moulds are often encountered as gelatinous masses or plasmodial forms on decaying organic matter, where they play vital roles in nutrient cycling and decomposition.There is more about slime moulds in the classroom - see the link below