Abstract

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

"The overall layout of this text makes it easily accessible as a reference...a must-have reference for mycologists, ecologists, plant pathologists, fungal pathologists, and anyone else interested in fungal biodiversity."
-Dawn R. Black, Dept. of Environmental & Plant Biology, Ohio University, in JOURNAL OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL SOCIETY, 2005.
"This is a library tome and I am sure it will generate great interest amongst students who have the privilege and luxury of attending a tailored institute course..."
-Roy Watling, in MYCOLOGIST, 2005
"Anywhere you enter the book, you will find something to pique your interest. Sit down and read any one chapter and be transported into that world."
-Darlene Southworth, Southern Oregon University, in PLANT SCIENCE BULLETIN, 2005
"Biodiversity of Fungi is an invaluable book for mycologists that are interested in ecology, taxonomy and conservation."
- MYCOTAXON, VOL. 90, 2004
"A valuable and much-needed body of work...the editors have greatly simplified the overwhelming complexity of quantifying fungal diversity."
- Miranda Hart in TRENDS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, June 2005
"Biodiversity of Fungi is a welcome addition to my reference bookshelf..."
-BIOSCIENCE, March 2005