XVI International Botanical Congess

Protostelids (Eumycetozoa) occur on dead plant material. In a survey of protostelids in Hawai'i, decaying bits of tree ferns were collected from several habitats. Decaying vegetation from other plants was collected at the same sites. All collections were examined for protostelids. This was done to determine whether any species are specific to tree ferns. None were preferentially associated with tree ferns. Therefore, decaying tree ferns support protostelids as effectively as any other type of decaying plant. The large size of tree fern leaves will allow resampling of a single leaf. It is possible to use them in studies to determine the patterns by which protostelid communities become established on substrates and change as the substrate decays.