Analysis of populations of Beltrania rhombica, a mitosporic fungus, in ecosystems with Mediterranean maquis

Abstract

The natural biodiversity of Beltrania rhombica Penzig on litter of Pistaria lentiscus L. was studied by statistical methods in four coastal stations with Mediterranean maquis. Sixty‐four colonies were examined and compared, leading to the identification of 14 statistically homogeneous groups. The differences in morphology and dimensions observed in the 64 colonies suggest that ,B. rhombica is a species with high intraspecies variability which does not seem to be determined by environmental conditions or nutrients.