What are these small red spikes growing on the top of my soil? (AUS)

[Gardens]

Just got into gardening and I noticed these small red spike looking things growing on the top of my soil in a planter box I have. It seems to be spreading pretty far. Any idea what it is, is it harmful to the plants I have growing in there (lettuce and chillies), and is there an easy way to get rid of it?

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20220205-093301

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Thanks

 

[Marck]

This is some type of detritivore digesting the wood chips in your planter box. It isn't likely to do any harm to your plants and is part of the natural cycling of organic matter in soil. It might be an ascomyce fungus or a type of slime mold (Mycetozoa).