We do research in fungal systematics and evolutionary biology. We collect field specimens and natural history collections to discern taxonomic and evolutionary relationships of mushrooms using methods of phylogenetic inference. We use phylogenies (like the one illustrated to the right) not just for classification purposes, but also to test hypotheses about the evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses, fungal biogeographical patterns, trait evolution, and patterns of diversification in mushrooms.

2 October 2009: The need for a North American flora for mushroom-forming fungi

The latest Inoculum, the newsletter for the Mycological Society of America, has published a two page report (pdf here) on the 2-week field trip to the Smokies this summer. This report also presents a preliminary case for the needs of a North American mushroom flora, which we have not seen in close to 100 years.

25 September 2009: Online work group set up for Inocybe phylogenetic taxonomy

Brandon has set up a Wiggio work group that shares sequence data of type collections and authentic materials of Inocybaceae. Descriptions from protologues and recent photographs of representative collections will be provided where possible. Contact Brandon if you’d like to join.

17 August 2009: Two weeks of field work completed in the Smokies

We’re back from the Smokies having amassed 647 collections of mushroom-forming fungi that correspond to 410 morphological species. Collecting took place between 28 July and 6 August. Participants included Steve Trudell, Mike Wood, Michael Pilkington, Aaron Wolfenbarger, Else Vellinga, John Lennie, Joshua Birkebak, and myself. Lactarius, Entoloma sensu lato, and Cortinarius were the big winners on this trip. We need a new North American Flora for mushroom-forming fungi pretty badly. North Americans have not had an updated comprehensive mushroom flora in 100+ years!

2 August 2009: Joshua Birkebak, new grad student

Joshua Birkebak has joined the lab and will be entering as PhD student. Joshua has a three-year GRA on a Fungus Herbarium Improvement Grant from NSF awarded to Ron Petersen, Karen Hughes, and Gene Wofford at the University of Tennessee.

25 June 2009: Brandon returns from the South Pacific

Brandon returned from a six-week collecting trip in New Zealand and southeast Australia with 175 collections, many of which are Inocybe and a few Auritella species. Brandon gave talks at the New Zealand Foray, the Melbourne Botanic Garden, and the Biology Club at the University of Tasmania. Along the way he stayed with Jim Trappe in Canberra and David Ratkowsky in Hobart. Brandon met some new faces and saw familiar ones from his trip to Perth some eight years ago.

27 April 2009: PhD thesis published on Inocybe systematics

Martin Ryberg printed his PhD thesis titled “An evolutionary view of the taxonomy and ecology of Inocybe (Agaricales), Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg. You can find a link to the abstract at the Inocybaceae Post.