go. A well studied mold is the slime mold, or Physarum polycephalum. This mold, like many other inhabits shady, moist areas, such as under decaying logs. It is usually yellow in color, and eats bacteria, fungal spores, and other microbes. To consume its food, it surrounds it, and uses enzymes to break it down. Since it consumes food like this, it is not harmful. As food starts to run out, it goes into its reproductive state. Physarum polycephalum can anticipate changes. Even though they do not
Slime Molds There are over 500 different types of slime molds, or myxomycetes as the scientific world calls them. Slime molds have been difficult to classify for years do to the fact that they exhibit characteristics of both fungi and animals. In the feeding stage, the slime molds moves about as a mass of protoplasm(the plasmodium)feeding on bacteria, spores, and other organic matter, much like an amoeba does. When conditions become unfavorable , the plasmodium changes, taking on the appearance