Ep. 120: Lichenology - Biodiversity and Evolution of Fungal, Algal Symbiosis (feat. Matthew Nelsen PhD)

Today on Mushroom Hour we are joined by illustrious lichen expert Matthew Nelsen PhD. Matthew is a Research Scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Matt's research began in botany, ecology and environmental science and has more recently gravitated towards: (i) the evolution of symbiotic associations; and (ii) the evolution of eukaryotic microbes (fungi and algae), and the roles they have played in shaping terrestrial ecosystems and nutrient-cycling over geologic timescales. Both avenues of his research attempt to link diverse fields and organismal groups. He also has conducted work addressing the timing and evolutionary consequences of ant-plant interactions. Matt thank you so much for joining us on the Mushroom Hour!   

TOPICS COVERED:    

• Fungus & Algae Species Forming Lichen Partnerships    
• Host Specificity in Lichen Partnerships    
• Evolutionary History of Lichen    
• Vascular Plants on Land Before Lichen?!    
• Challenges of Working on “Big Time”    
• Process of Lichen Formation, Fungal Phenotypes    
• Lichen Blurring Species Boundaries    
• Cleptobiosis    
• Role in Carbon & Nitrogen Cycles    
• Lichen as an Ecosystem    
• Lichen & Air Quality in an Environment    
• Lichenometry   
• Analysis of Fungal Coal Formation Hypothesis    
• Ant Plant Interactions   

EPISODE RESOURCES:   

• Matthew Nelsen Website: https://mpnelsen.com/   
• Lichen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen   
• Xanthoria parietina (Lichen): https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Xanthoria_parietina   
• Trebouxia (Lichen Genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebouxia   
• Toby Spribille (Lichen Expert): https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vPlIL5IAAAAJ&hl=en   
• Betsy Arnold (Endophyte Expert): http://www.arnoldlab.net/   
• Article on Fungal Coal Formation Hypothesis: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1517943113  
• Arthrobotrys (Fungal Genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthrobotrys   
• Mycoparasites: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/mycoparasites