Dr. Steve L. Stephenson

Dr. Steven L. Stephenson
Research Professor
Department of Biological Sciences

[Subantarctic Campbell Island in March of 2000]

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(M.S. in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1977)

Research Interests

Selected Publications

Research Projects

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

For more than thirty years, I have carried on a vigorous program of basic research in two different subject areas: (1) the ecology of upland forest communities in the mid-Appalachian region of eastern North America and (2) the distribution and ecology of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) and other eumycetozoans in terrestrial ecosystems. In brief, my research on the forests of the mid-Appalachians is an outgrowth of the work I did for my doctorate, whereas my research on myxomycete ecology was initiated in 1977. Much of my previous research on the upland forests of the mid-Appalachians has focused on the vegetation-site relationships, composition, structure, and dynamics of deciduous forest communities, particularly those dominated by oak. However, during the past fifteen years, my research has been directed toward the subalpine coniferous forests of the same region. One aspect of this research has involved an evaluation of the possible effects of acid deposition and global climate change on these communities. My research on myxomycete ecology has been directed toward the goal of increasing our knowledge of (1) the relative importance and exact role of myxomycetes as members of the detritus food chain and (2) the ecological significance of their interactions with other organisms in terrestrial ecosystems. Primary emphasis has been placed on analyzing patterns of microhabitat occupation, species composition, species diversity, and taxonomic diversity of myxomycetes in temperate forests and assessing the ecological relationships involved in the exploitation of myxomycetes as a food resource by insects in this type of ecosystem. Although a major portion of this research has been carried out in the forests of eastern North America, I've also collected and studied myxomycetes in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, northwestern India, Alaska, Argentina, Thailand, eastern Peru, Ecuador, East Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, subantarctic Macquarie Island, subantarctic Campbell Island and the cool temperate Auckland Islands, eastern Russia, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. My current research effort is devoted largely to detailed studies of (1) the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with boreal forest, tundra and other ecosystems of high-latitude regions of the world, (2) the myxomycetes associated with tropical forests, and (3) the ecological distribution patterns of all three groups of mycetozoans (myxomycetes, dictyostelids and protostelids) in various types of terrestrial ecosystems.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Landolt, J. C., S. L. Stephenson, and M. E. Slay. 2006. Dictyostelid cellular slime molds from caves. Cave and Karst Journal 68:22-26.

Vasilyeva, L. N., and S. L. Stephenson. 2006. Pyrenomycetes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. III. Cryptosphaeria Ces. et De Not., Eutypa Tul. et C. Tul., and Eutypella (Nitschke) Sacc. (Diatrypaceae). Fungal Diversity 22:243-254.

Tran, H. T. M., S. L. Stephenson, K. D. Hyde, and O. Mongkolporn. 2006. Distribution and occurrence of myxomycetes in tropical forests of northern Thailand. Fungal Diversity 22:227-242.

Powers, D. M., and S. L. Stephenson. 2006. Protostelids from tropical forests, woodlands and deserts of Australia. Mycologia 98:218-222.

Stephenson, S. L., and G. Moreno. 2006. A new species of Didymium (Myxomycetes) from subantarctic Macquarie Island. Mycological Progress 5:255-258.

Landolt, J. C., S. L. Stephenson, and J. C. Cavender. 2006. Distribution and ecology of dictyostelid cellular slime molds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mycologia 98:541-549.

Novozhilov, Y. K., I. V. Zemlianskaia, M. Schnittler, and S. L. Stephenson. 2006. Myxomycete diversity and ecology in the arid regions of the Lower Volga River Basin (Russia). Fungal Diversity 23:193-241.

Vasilyeva, L. N., S. L. Stephenson, and A. N. Miller. 2007. Pyrenomycetes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. IV. Biscogniauxia, Camaropella, Camarops, Camillea, Peridoxylon and Whalleya. Fungal Diversity 25:219-231.

Lado, C., A. Estrada-Torres, and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Myxomycetes collected in the first phase of a north-south transect of Chile. Fungal Diversity 25:81-101.

Smith, T., and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Algae associated with myxomycetes and leafy liverworts on decaying spruce logs. Castanea 72:50-57.

Novozhilov, Y. K., S. L. Stephenson, M. Overking, J. C. Landolt, and G. A. Laursen. 2007. Studies of Frostfire myxomycetes including the description of a new species of Diderma. Mycological Progress 6:45-51.

Stephenson, S. L., G. A. Laursen, and R. D. Seppelt. 2007. Myxomycetes of subantarctic Macquarie Island. Australian Journal of Botany 55:439-449.

Vasilyeva, L. N., and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Cryptovalsaria gen. nov. and its two species from eastern Asia and south central North America. Sydowia 59:154-160.

Huebner, C. D., S. L. Stephenson, H. S. Adams, and G. W. Miller. 2007. Short-term dynamics of second-growth mixed mesophytic forest strata in West Virginia. Castanea 72:65-81.

Stephenson, S. L., M. E. Slay, C. A. Melhart, and A. E. Tuggle. 2007. Cave crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) as vectors of dictyostelids. Entomological News 118:292-295.

Stephenson, S. L., H. S. Adams, and C. D. Huebner. 2007. Upland forest vegetation of the Ozark Mountains in northwestern Arkansas. Rhodora 109:197-221.

Lindley, L. A., S. L. Stephenson, and F. W. Spiegel. 2007. Protostelids and myxomycetes isolated from aquatic habitats. Mycologia 99:504-509.

Rosing, W. C., D. W. Mitchell, and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Corticolous myxomycetes from Victoria. Australasian Mycologist 26:9-15.

Rojas, C., and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Distribution and ecology of myxomycetes in the high-elevation oak forests of Cerro Bellavista, Costa Rica. Mycologia 99:534-543.

Stephenson, S. L., G. Moreno, and H. Singer. 2007. Notes on some nivicolous myxomycetes from Australia and New Zealand including the description of a new species of Lamproderma. Oesterreichische Zeitschrift fur Pilzkunde 16:11-23.

Semwal, K. C., R. E. Tulloss, R. P. Bhatt, S. L. Stephenson, and R. C. Upadhyay. 2007. New records of Amanita from Garhwal Himalaya, India—Amanita section Amanita. Mycotaxon 101:331-349.

Wrigley de Basanta, D., S. L. Stephenson, C. Lado, A. Estrada-Torres, and A. M. Nieves-Rivera. 2008. Lianas as a microhabitat for myxomycetes in tropical forests. Fungal Diversity 28:109-125.

Landolt, J. C., J. C. Cavender, S. L. Stephenson, and E. Vadell. 2008. New species of dictyostelid cellular slime moulds from Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 21:50-66.

Stephenson, S. L., M. Schnittler, and Y. K. Novozhilov. 2008. Myxomycete diversity and distribution from the fossil record to the present. Biodiversity and Conservation 17:285-301.

Moreno, G., W. C. Rosing, D. W. Mitchell, and S. L. Stephenson. 2007. Comatricha pseudonigra, a new corticolous myxomycete from Australia. Boletín de la Sociedad Micológica de Madrid 31:171-175.

Tran, H. T. M., S. L. Stephenson, K. D. Hyde, and O. Mongkolporn. 2008. Distribution and occurrence of myxomycetes on agricultural ground litter and forest floor litter in Thailand. Mycologia 100:181-190.

Vasilyeva, L. N., and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. The Linnaean hierarchy and 'extensional thinking'. Open Evolution Journal 2:55-65.

Rojas, C., and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. Myxomycete ecology along an elevation gradient on Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Fungal Diversity 29:117-127.

Novozhilov, Y. K., I. V. Zemlyanskaya, M. Schnittler, and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. Two new species of Perichaena (Myxomycetes) from arid areas of Russia and Kazakhstan. Mycologia 100:816-822.

Moreno, G., H. Singer and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. A study on Lamproderma australiensis and L. reticulosporum. Boletín de la Sociedad Micológica de Madrid 32:113-120.

Stephenson, S. L., L. A. Urban, C. Rojas, and M. S. McDonald. 2008. Myxomycetes associated with woody twigs. Revista Mexicana de Micologia 27:21-28.

Winsett, K. E., and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. Using ITS sequences to assess intraspecific genetic relationships among geographically separated collections of the myxomycete Didymium squamulosum. Revista Mexicana de Micologia 27:59-65.

Camino, M., S. L. Stephenson, T. Krivomaz, D. Wrigley de Basanta, C. Lado, and A. Estrada-Torres. 2008. Biodiversity surveys for myxomycetes in the mountains of central Cuba. Revista Mexicana de Micologia 27:39-51.

Landolt, J. C., J. D. Shadwick, and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. First records of dictyostelids and protostelids from Ascension Island. Sydowia 60:235-245.

Vasilyeva, L. N., and S. L. Stephenson. 2009. The genus Diatrype Fr. (Ascomycota, Diatrypaceae) in Arkansas and Texas (USA). Mycotaxon 107:307-313.

Rojas, C., M. Schnittler, D. Biffi, and S. L. Stephenson. 2008. Microhabitat and niche separation in species of Ceratiomyxa. Mycologia 100:843-850.

Ndiritu, G. G. K. E. Winsett, F. W. Spiegel, and S. L. Stephenson. 2009. African myxomycetes II. Mycotaxon 107:353-356.

Ndiritu, G., F. W. Spiegel, and S. L. Stephenson. 2009. First records and microhabitat assessment of protostelids in the Aberdare Region, Central Kenya. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 56:148-158.

Shadwick, J. D., S. L. Stephenson, and F. W. Spiegel. 2009. Distribution and ecology of protostelids in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mycologia 101:320-328.

Stephenson, S. L., and J. C. Landolt. 2009. Mycetozoans of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project. Southeastern Naturalist 8:317-324.

Moreno, G., C. Rojas, S. L. Stephenson, and H. Singer. 2009. A new species of Lamproderma (Myxomycetes) from Costa Rica. Mycological Progress 8:215-219.

Stephenson, S. L., and J. D. Shadwick. 2009. Nivicolous myxomycetes from alpine areas of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 57:116-122.

Stephenson, S. L. 2009. First records of myxomycetes from Ascension Island. Sydowia 61:105-115.

Ko Ko, T. W., S. L. Stephenson, R. Jeewon, S. Lumyong, and K. D. Hyde. 2009. Molecular diversity of myxomycetes associated with decaying wood and forest floor leaf litter. Mycologia 101:592-598.

Wrigley de Basanta, C. Lado, A. Estrada-Torres, and S. L. Stephenson. 2009. Description and life cycle of a new Didymium (Myxomycetes) from arid areas of Argentina and Chile. Mycologia 101:707-716.

Vasilyeva, L. N., Y. Li, and S. L. Stephenson. 2009. Some pyrenomycetous fungi new to China. Mycotaxon 109:415-428.

Moreno, G., D. W. Mitchell, S. L. Stephenson, and T. Edison dela Cruz. 2009. A new species of Craterium (Myxomycetes) with reticulate spores. Boletín de la Sociedad Micológica de Madrid 33:175-180.