BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 23, 2023
The wilderness keeps surprising me with things I’ve never seen before — like neon pink slime mold. Slime molds aren’t fungi or lichens. They’re single-celled organisms that move around, similar to an amoeba. At that stage, they’re too small for people to see. But sometimes, they congregate to form threads and fruiting bodies that resemble mushrooms. Slime molds play an important role in the ecosystem. Often found on decaying forest litter and rotting wood, they serve as decomposers and recycle nutrients. They feed on bacteria, which decomposes plant matter. They also serve as food for worms, beetles and other creepy crawlies. Slime molds don’t have brains, but they can communicate with chemical signals. In a laboratory setting, they’ve demonstrated the ability to navigate mazes to find food. Furthermore, if fed on a schedule at a specific location, they can anticipate that feeding event and spot.