Beyond the obvious: insights into the diversity and ecological niche of the Myxomycetes in temperate forests of Eastern Himalaya

The ecological distribution of the Myxomycetes, a diverse group of slime molds, is shaped by complex interactions involving environmental and edaphic factors. This study explored the predictive distribution of the Myxomycetes in Neora Valley National Park (NVNP), West Bengal, India, focusing on the influence of aspect, bulk density, clay content, pH, and vegetation health (as measured by NDVI). Field surveys were conducted across varied forest habitats, and environmental niche models were developed using MaxEnt-based Ensemble of Small Models, integrating multivariate environmental data and species occurrence points. Findings suggest that the Myxomycetes are predominantly distributed on northern-facing slopes with high aspect values, favouring cooler and more humid micro-environments. Bulk density and clay content were also critical in influencing the availability of substrates for Myxomycetes, with lower bulk density and higher clay content promoting better soil aeration and moisture retention. Soil pH played an important role in nutrient availability, further modulating habitat suitability. Use of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a covariate revealed that Myxomycetes preferred areas with lower vegetation density, where organic matter and dead wood were more abundant, facilitating decomposition processes. MaxEnt-based Ensemble of Small Models showed high predictive performance (mean TSS = 0.724, mean AUC = 0.816) in identifying suitable habitats for Myxomycetes. These findings have important biogeographic insights for the Myxomycetes, as well as an important contribution to the identification of potential areas for protection of their habitats in NVNP. Future studies should focus on further biodiversity assessments, exploring the effects of climate change on mesohabitats, and investigating the interactions between Myxomycetes, their host trees, and other microbial communities. This will enhance the understanding of their role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning.