This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) project grant award of $300,000 to Tuskegee University aims to transform approaches to studying myxomycete (slime mold) diversity and improve preservation of natural history collections. The key products and services to be delivered include:
- Utilizing molecular techniques to confirm identification of type specimens and document novel slime mold diversity from the L. Frederick Myxomycete Collection, a historically significant archive spanning over 40 years and multiple countries.
- Digitizing specimens from the collection to enhance accessibility and broaden data dissemination through public portals.
- Investigating the diversity and composition of slime mold communities across a wetland-upland gradient in Macon County, Alabama to increase taxonomic resolution for ecological studies.
- Developing an interdisciplinary training platform for undergraduate and graduate students at Tuskegee University to address microbial ecology questions and provide hands-on experience in preserving biodiversity records.
The project aims to advance the understanding of slime mold diversity, ecology, and evolution, while also investing in the preservation of important natural history collections and training the next generation of mycologists.
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