Myxomycetes of the Caramoan Islands and an update on the species found in the Bicol Peninsula, Philippines

The main objective of this study was to characterize the assemblages of myxomycetes on isolated Philippine islands through a correlational study using geographical and ecological distance in the Caramoan Islands, including an updated checklist of the myxomycetes of the Bicol Peninsula. Four islands of varying sizes and distances from each other, but all within relatively close proximity to the mainland of the Bicol Peninsula, were surveyed. A combination of traditional and more contemporary ecological tools was used to analyze diversity indices among and between the islands. Among the four islands, Matukad Island recorded the highest species richness (46.8) and taxonomic diversity index (2.6), while ranking next to Lahos island in terms of species diversity (7.9). Pairwise comparisons using community similarity indices and clustering analysis consistently showed that Lahos and Matukad are the most similar to each other, while also being closer to one another but situated farthest from the mainland. On the other hand, the two smallest islands, which were also closest to each other and to the mainland, grouped together using clustering analysis but recorded the lowest pairwise percentage similarity value. The ecological patterns in this study appear to follow the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography more than the insular biogeography theory. In addition, this study added 16 new morphospecies to the list of myxomycetes known from the Bicol Peninsula, which brings the total to 73, including one new record for the country [Lamproderma arcyrioides (Sommerf.) Rostaf.] KEYWORDS: slime molds, insular, biodiversity, paleotropics, unified netural theory