Ep. 159: Mycorrhizal Ecology, Soil Biodiversity & Political Instability in South America (feat. Dr. César Marin)

Sep 3, 2023

Dr. César Marin, researcher and academic in Chile, discusses the agency of fungi in symbiotic relationships with plants and the distribution of nutrients in plant networks. The podcast also explores the oldest tree in the world and its fungal associations, the connection between conifers and mycorrhizal fungi, drug decriminalization as a solution to the drug trade, the flaws of rationalism in science, and the fascinating impact of understanding fungal organisms on our perception of the world.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Agency of Fungi in Mycorrhizal Relationships

01:41 • 12min

The Oldest Tree in the World and its Fungal Associations

13:46 • 3min

The Relationship Between Conifers and Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Northern Hemisphere

16:19 • 26min

Drug Decriminalization as a Solution

42:01 • 22min

The Flaws of Rationalism, Importance of Collaboration, and Multi-disciplinary Perspectives in Science

01:03:37 • 5min

The Fascinating World of Fungi and Its Impact on Science

01:08:42 • 11min

Today on Mushroom Hour we are honored by the presence of Dr. César Marin – Researcher and Academic at the Center for Research and Innovation for Climate Change, School of Sciences, Santo Tomas University in Chile. Among his many accomplished roles, César has been a Postdoc at the Department of Mycorrhizal Symbioses, at the Czech Academy of Sciences, a Researcher at the Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences of the University of O’Higgins and at the Department of Ecosystems and Environment, of the School of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile AND Professor of “Soil, Ecosystems, and Global Change” at the Open University of Recoleta. Dr. Marin is the founder and lead of the South American Mycorrhizal Research Network, he is on the Board of Directors of the International Mycorrhiza Society, one of the initial members/Network laboratory of the Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (SoilBON), and a Research Associate of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN). He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the International Mycorrhiza Society Newsletter, on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment and of the Evolutionary and Genomic Microbiology section, Scientific Adviser of FungiFest, and collaborator on Skype a Scientist.

TOPICS COVERED:

Mycorrhizal Ecology
Underground Nutrient Economy
The Oldest Tree in the World
How Mineral Availability Shapes Fungal Ecologies in Soil
Starting a Research Career in Chile
Emerging Mycology Research in South America
Undiscovered Biodiversity
Living with Political Violence in Colombia
How Science can Diffuse Violence and Contribute to Positive Social Change
South American Mycorrhizal Research Network
Protecting Land Based on Below-Ground Biodiversity
Fungal Allies & Adapting to a Changing Environment
Multilevel Natural Selection Theory
How to Think About the Practice of Science

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Dr. César Marin Website: https://cesar-marin.com/
SPUN: https://www.spun.earth/
SoilBON: https://www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org/soilbon
South American Mycorrhizal Research Network: https://southmycorrhizas.org/
"Gran Abuelo" tree in Chile: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-cypress-in-chile-could-soon-break-the-record-for-worlds-oldest-tree
Butyriboletus loyo (fungus): https://www.ffungi.org/blog/butyriboletus-loyo-surviving-extinction
Cortinarius magellanicus (fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortinarius_magellanicus
Rhizoglomus cacao (fungus): https://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/nova_hedwigia/detail/115/101684/Rhizoglomus_cacao_a_new_species_of_the_Glomeraceae?af=crossref