a bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. slime molds
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the
summer on mulched flower beds.
SLIME MOLDS
![Page 2: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The yellow blob turns gray, becomes hard, then breaks down into a brown powder.
![Page 3: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
People complain that the yellow blob looks like dog vomit and that the brown powder stains sidewalks.
What is this stuff?
![Page 4: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
It’s a slime mold!
![Page 5: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
The body of a slime mold is a single amoeba-like, multinucleated cell called a plasmodium.
![Page 6: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Decaying leaves, bacteria, protozoa, and wild yeast are engulfed by the a slime mold as it moves along the ground.
![Page 7: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
After a heavy dew or evening fog, the plasmodium will slowly creep up onto the leaves of grass or low-growing shrubs as well as onto pine bark and other mulches.
![Page 8: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
The plasmodium rapidly dries in the morning sun into a crust containing numerous fruiting bodies.
![Page 9: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Here are more slime mold fruiting bodies.
![Page 10: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Surviving spores absorb water, germinate and release a single motile swarm spore.
As the crust disintegrates, clouds of dust-like spores are dispersed by air currents, water, mowers, pets and foot traffic.
![Page 11: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Two spores then fuse to form an amoeba-like cell which gives rise to the multinucleated plasmodium and the whole cycle begins all over again.
![Page 12: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: A bright yellow slimy blob is commonly seen in the summer on mulched flower beds. SLIME MOLDS](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062713/56649f585503460f94c7dd7f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Superorganism
It looks like a single being, but it’s a society of former individuals . . . The
slime mold!