The Insect-Fungus War: Behavioral Fever
Fungi, heat, and height all figure into an insect phenomenon called behavioral fever.
Phallus ravenelii: the common stinkhorn, Ravenel’s stinkhorn
Stink stink stink, we love stinkhorns. A little about their sordid history and biology here. What’s not to like?
A tribute to Carl Sagan
I’m fortunate to work in the same place Carl Sagan did. On the 10th anniversary of his death, a brief remembrance, and a celebration of a couple of other science communicators who influenced me.
Hydnum umbilicatum, the sweet tooth
This Hedgehogology post was written by a student in PLPA 319 Known as both the “hedgehog” and the “sweet tooth” mushroom, Hydnum umbilicatum has some remarkable features that make it an incredible member of the diverse world of fungi. This mushroom gets its common names due to its edibility and the structure of its gills. […]
Pilobolus and the lungworm
Jack, a student in PLPA 309 wrote this, and isolated the fungus in the time lapse, too. Innocently spreading by mycelial growth, Pilobolus species faithfully secrete their extracellular enzymes, breaking down herbivore dung and recycling its nutrients. Upon maturation, Pilobolus species produce tiny fluid-filled vesicles, atop each of which a spore packet called a sporangium […]
$#%!&! Red Russulas
Beginning mushroomers often think a field guide is the key to all knowledge. But there are some kinds of mushrooms that even intrepid field guide authors fear. The little brown ones (LBMs, we call them), yes, but also these big handsome red Russulas. Good luck.
Dyeing with Lichens & Mushrooms
This post was written by PLPA 309 student Randi W., who encouraged our class to try dyeing and collected some Pycnoporus, too. Did you know that fungi can be used to make dyes? Perhaps that lovely carpet your grandmother had in her living room was dyed with lichens early in the 20th century? That’s right! […]
Frogblog2: Origin and spread of the frog chytrid
Part deux of our two-part series on the frog chytrid, a fungus that is wiping out amphibians all over the world.
Mystery liverwort fungus, chapter two
The saga of the Friday Afternoon Mycologist vs. the mystery fungus continues… Last week, fear won. Making a slide of a mysterious fungus at 4:50 when someone is waiting to be picked up at five o’clock is just too irresponsible an act. Remember this if you are ever in that situation. It is now 3:45 […]
Frogblog1: Chytridiomycosis and global amphibian decline
Poor, poor froggies. Although we love fungi, we definitely do not love the chytrid fungus that is busy killing frogs and other amphibians all over the world. It is an evil and highly unusual fungus (not that some other fungi aren’t evil), in that it is the only known vertebrate pathogen among chytrids. Here is a primer in two parts.
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