Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods

Biodiversity of Fungi is essential for anyone collecting and/or monitoring any fungi. Fascinating and beautiful, fungi are vital components of nearly all ecosystems and impact human health and our economy in a myriad of ways. Standardized methods for documenting diversity and distribution have been lacking. A wealth of information, especially regrading sampling protocols, compiled by an international team of fungal biologists, make Biodiversity of Fungi an incredible and fundamental resource for the study of organismal biodiversity.

Chapters cover everything from what is a fungus, to maintaining and organizing a permanent study collection with associated databases; from protocols for sampling slime molds to insect associated fungi; from fungi growing on and in animals and plants to mushrooms and truffles. The chapters are arranged both ecologically and by sampling method rather than by taxonomic group for ease of use. The information presented here is intended for everyone interested in fungi, anyone who needs tools to study them in nature including naturalists, land managers, ecologists, mycologists, and even citizen scientists and sophiscated amateurs.

• Covers all groups of fungi - from molds to mushrooms, even slime molds
• Describes sampling protocols for many groups of fungi
• Arranged by sampling method and ecology to coincide with users needs
• Beautifully illustrated to document the range of fungi treated and techniques discussed
• Natural history data are provided for each group of fungi to enable users to modify suggested protocols to meet their needs

Biodiversity of Fungi is essential for anyone collecting or monitoring fungi. This internationally renowned team of fungal biologists has compiled a wealth of information and full color photographs to create a fundamental resource for the study of organismal biodiversity. Chapters include basic definitions of each group of fungi and fungi growing on or in animals and plants. The book covers standard protocols for sampling slime molds, mushrooms and truffles and describes how to maintain and organize a permanent study collection with associated databases. The chapters are arranged ecologically and by sampling method for ease of use.

This beautifully illustrated work is intended for anyone studying fungi in nature: mycologists, naturalists, land managers, ecologists, and amateur scientists.