Explain: Slime Moulds.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Text Solution for Slime Moulds

1. **Classification**:
- Slime molds belong to the kingdom **Protista**. This classification places them among a diverse group of organisms that are primarily unicellular and can exhibit both plant-like and animal-like characteristics.

2. **Feeding Habits**:
- Slime molds are **saprophytic** organisms. This means they obtain their nutrients by decomposing organic matter. They thrive on decaying materials such as twigs and leaves, where they move and engulf organic matter.

3. **Movement and Habitat**:
- They typically move along decaying organic matter, which allows them to absorb nutrients effectively. Their movement is facilitated by a flowing cytoplasm, enabling them to engulf food particles.

4. **Aggregation**:
- Under suitable environmental conditions, slime molds can aggregate to form a structure known as **plasmodium**. This plasmodium is essentially a mass of cytoplasm containing many nuclei and can spread over several feet.

5. **Reproductive Structures**:
- During unfavorable conditions, the plasmodium undergoes differentiation to form **fruiting bodies**. These structures bear spores at their tips. The spores are encased in true walls, making them highly resistant to harsh conditions.

6. **Survival and Dispersal**:
- The spores produced by slime molds can survive for many years, even in adverse conditions. They are dispersed through **air currents**, allowing for the spread of the species to new locations.

7. **Example**:
- An example of a slime mold is **Fuligo septica**, which illustrates the characteristics of plasmodial slime molds.