The aims of this study were to obtain data on Myxomycete diversity in Neotropical forests and savannas and to determine the composition of the Physarales species assemblage associated with different microhabitats in Serra de Itabaiana National Park, Sergipe (10º 40'52"S; 37º 25'15"W, 180-670m alt., 7966 ha). During 20 months, sporocarps were collected and samples of substrata obtained for use in 590 moist-chamber cultures. Collections are deposited in the Herbaria UFP and MA - Fungi. The abundance and constancy of each species are given. Seven species of Didymiaceae and 24 species of Physaraceae comprise an annotated list and their distribution in Brazil is presented. Physarales were present in all microhabitats, in the dry and rainy seasons; fimicolous and succulenticolous species were observed only in moist-chamber cultures. The most abundant species were Physarum viride (Bull.) Pers., Physarum stellatum (Massee) G.W. Martin, and Physarum cinereum (Batsch) Pers. Except for Diachea silvaepluvialis M.L. Farr, P. cinereum, and Physarum roseum Berk. & Broome, all the species are new records for Sergipe. Diderma rugosum (Rex) T. Macbr., Didymium dubium Rostaf. and Physarum pulcherrimum Berk. & Ravenel are reported for the first time in Brazil.
Atlantic forest; savanna; Myxomycetes; Neotropics; Physarales
