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MYCETOZOA IN EPPING FOREST IN 1947-48
BY JOSEPH ROSS
THE period covered by this report on the occurrence of
Mycetozoa in Epping Forest is from March 1st, 1947, to
February 29th, 1948; it was a time of abnormal weather, and
the records of Mycetozoa were of outstanding interest. A very
severe winter ended with snow and rain equivalent to 5.19 inches
in March at Chingford. Gales on 12 days in April caused
superficial dryness, and a heat-wave followed in May. In each
month from May to September inclusive the temperature rose
above 80° F., reaching 93° F. on June 3rd. In August and
September there were 33 consecutive rainless days. For the
four months April to July the rainfall totalled 6.80 inches, and
for the four months August to November it was 2.70 inches.
For the calendar year 1947 the rainfall was 20.22 inches, compared
with 29.45 inches for the preceding year.
Mainly as a result of the unusual weather only 22 species of
Mycetozoa had been recorded at the end of July, against 38 in
the year before, and at the end of December the species recorded
numbered 44 against 66. However, good rainfall and some spells
of mild weather after November resulted in highly successful
hunting in January and February, 1948, and although after
February 17th searching was almost impossible, the total of
species for the 12 months was brought up to 62, against 68 in
1946-7.
The number of species recorded for each month of the period
was: March (1947)—none, April—3, May—5, June—12, July—
22, August—6, September;—22, October—32, November—27,
December—22, January (1948)—33, February—35.
Following the prolonged dry spell in August and September,
it was not until September 19th—a week after the drought
broke—that immature Trichia decipiens (Persoon) Macbride
was found, and two days later immature or recent Ceratiomyxa
fruticulosa (Mueller) Macbr., Comatricha nigra (Pers.) Schroeter,
Lycogala epidendrum (Linne) Fries and Arcyria pomiformis