Laurton McGurk: Mycology is better than yourology

Laurton McGurk:  Mycology is better than yourology

An often-voiced opinion is that fungi are uncommon.  Dr Laurton McGurk’s talk will explain that this is wrong. All it needs is knowledge of what to look for, where to look, and sufficient athleticism to peer under steps, logs and leaf litter.

Fungi, formerly considered in the Plant kingdom, are now recognised as being in their own kingdom, more closely related to animals than plants. There are believed to be over 1.5 million species of fungi. Unlike green plants, they do not contain chlorophyll, and they cannot make their own food; consequently they are important in nutrient recycling, as mycorrhizal symbionts of plants, and as parasites of both plants and animals. They are also important as items of food, and in the food industry. Their classification is based on macroscopic and microscopic traits, but DNA sequencing is becoming very important to clarify relationships.

Laurton gained her PhD on her studies on the Amanita genus comprising roughly 600 species of mushrooms that includes some of the most highly prized edibles and the deadliest fungi on the planet. The genus is responsible for about 95% of all fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide.

Laurton and an inflatable Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) (Supplied: L. McGurk)