Your path towards ecological understanding

Spore release within the Xylariaceae

January 24, 2020 Philip Pinzone

Thamnomyces chocoënsis. Photo by Danny Newman.

Looking into the fungal dispersal of the Xylariaceae, evolutionary trends are beckoning. The timing of asexual and sexual spore production highlights the importance of reducing competition. From the tropics to the temperate ecosystems of North America, competition shows to be a driving force in the evolution of these saprobic species.

Tree ring and old growth forest characteristics as a function of ecosystem type

January 17, 2020 Philip Pinzone

I was truly inspired after my experiences hiking in the cloud forests of Costa Rica. My travels, preparation for the upcoming semester, and curiosity about tree rings all coincided this week, which inspired me to put these underlying themes on paper. The goal of this article is to compare old growth forests in temperate vs. neotropical ecosystems and to better understand the interactions of tree growth rings and habitat.

Ecogeography and diversity of the Myxomycetes

December 6, 2019 Philip Pinzone

Lamproderma muscorum. Lado et. al 2019. — *Lamproderma muscorum.* Lado et. al 2019.

Perplexing mycologists and protozoologists for centuries, slime molds are fascinating species that share a similar ecogeographical pattern to members of the fungal kingdom. If you live in a mid-latitude temperate region as I do, you lucked out!

The giant fungus among us; Macrocybe titans

January 4, 2019 Philip Pinzone

Macrocybe titans Copyright © 2007 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur) — *Macrocybe titans*
Copyright © 2007 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur)

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Norman Borlaug; rust’s worst nightmare.

March 21, 2018 Philip Pinzone

Norman Borlaug is a name we should all know. He believed that food was a right to all, and that your origin of birth shouldn’t determine your access to food. Today I learned how he combated one of our greatest crop enemies; rust.