Your path towards ecological understanding

Fungi Friday; the veiled polypore, Cryptoporus volvatus

February 23, 2018 Philip Pinzone

Cross section of Cryptoporus volvatus. Check out the veil encasing the whole fungus, its pore bearing surface and insect inside. Photo by

 

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&… — Cross section of *Cryptoporus volvatus*. Check out the veil encasing the whole fungus, its pore bearing surface and insect inside. Photo by Alan Rockefeller.

This polypore has a veil that encases its reproductive tissues. Find out in detail how this structure carries out a series of ecological functions.

Bark beetle competition with its own ‘mutualist’

January 24, 2018 Philip Pinzone

Beetles represent 40% of all the insects, and 25% of all the animals living on Earth today.

Beetles are the most diverse group of insects in the world. They have been interacting with the forest floor since the Carboniferous, more than 300 million years ago. With this long period of time, one can see why so many evolutionary relationships have occurred since they made their way on to Earth's terrestrial scene.

Fungi Friday; Wickerhamomyces anomalus

December 22, 2017 Philip Pinzone

Colonies of Wickerhamomyces anomalus (B,D). 

 
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 &nb… — Colonies of *Wickerhamomyces anomalus* (B,D). Toki et al. 2013.

Happy Fungi Friday! Here, yet another example of fungal agriculture is described, only this time coming from a solitary insect.