Myxomycetes from different forest types in Puerto Rico

Forty-four species of myxomycetes, collected during a four-week survey in 1 998, are reported from Puerto Rico. Two species are recorded as new for the Caribbean Region, and eight species are new records for Puerto Rico. Infor mation about the distribution within the Caribbean Region is provided for e ach of the species collected. Among different forest types occurring along an elevation gradient that extends from sea level to 1000 m, remarkable dif ferences in myxomycete distribution were observed, with a clear pattern of decreasing myxomycete diversity with increasing elevation.