Project

Hey guys,

Hopefully someone will check this blog before class ends tonight. My daughter is sick again so I won't be able to make my project presentation. However, I did want to share what I did.

I think it was one of the first two classes that Bob mentioned the imperfections of trying to classify mushrooms. The Friesian field-based approach is primarily what mushroom identifiers use today but this system of identifying mushrooms can even break down due to the natural evolution of the world. In the last twenty-five years, with the rapid growth of technology, came the advancement of the microscopic approach, DNA sequencing. This new information resulted in a big rearrangement of the basidiomycete fungi. I've posted a website about this topic of DNA sequencing vs. the Friesian method which some of you may have already seen, but I just think it's fascinating. I think it says more about the human psyche than about our classification system that we have this need to fit everything into nice labeled boxes, including our own species.

MykoWeb--Evolution and Morphology

For my project I painted a 30x40 canvas of Haeckel's basidiomycete fungi which my daughter promptly threw up on yesterday so that today I had to put together this collage. I broke up picture into segments, because like I said before, I like that things don't fit into a nice neat box.

Enjoy!

Mycoremediation - Pollution Cure? Fungi are Adept at Decontaminating the Environment

Mycoremediation - Pollution Cure? Fungi are Adept at Decontaminating the Environment

Fungal processes that have been a part of balanced ecosystems for thousands of years may prove vital to cleaning up humanity's environmental mistakes.

 Mycoremediation (mykes, “fungus” and remedium, “a cure”) is a technique that utilizes the vegetative portion of a fungus to remove contaminants from a substrate—usually soil.

Scientists have discovered several ways in which fungi “decontaminate” their surroundings. These biological processes have been taking place for millennia; it is only recently that scientists have learned how fungal organisms remove or neutralize a myriad of substances—many of them toxic—from polluted sites.

As a fungus extends through its environment, its root-like hyphal cells form a network called a “mycelium.” A fungal mycelium excretes digestive enzymes as it grows. These enzymes break down surrounding organic matter which is then absorbed into the fungal cells for nutrition.

Fungi and Pesticides
Pesticide residues in soils represent one of agriculture's most vexing environmental problems. These contaminants--some of which are known carcinogens--often find their way into waterways and aquifers.

Researchers in Britain have demonstrated that inoculating contaminated soils with fungi enhances the degradation of multiple chemicals, such as simazine, trifluralin and dieldrin.

Fungi and Metals
Scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland have discovered that mycorrhizal fungi can sequester uranium (from spent ammunition) discarded on battlefields.

Fungi and Watershed Protection
In his 1993 book, Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms, Paul Stamets eloquently explained the concept of mycofiltration, a process whereby the mycelium of a fungus can be utilized to protect watersheds from contamination by nearby sites. In essence, a fungal mycelium can be established near a polluted area, and the network of cells will filter harmful microbes, chemicals, and even some heavy metals from the effluent leaving the contaminated site.

Though the concept of mycoremediation is in its infancy, this evolving technology holds great promise. Fungi can be introduced into a contaminated environment relatively cheaply. Once their work is completed, cleanup will be vastly simplified, because fungal metabolism leaves residues that are either harmless or significantly less toxic than the original substrate.

Yeah, we're saved!

Fungi Perfecti is Paul Stamets' website about mycoremediation and how mushrooms helped clean up an oil spill in San Francisco in 2007...

Wasn't really looking for any mushrooms today but they were everywhere on my normal walk on the upper Marquam Trail at Council Crest.

Spore Printing

Bob seemed interested in using the spore print pattern that I created when Amber ran out, so here it is for all to use. You'll need to use a program that understands DPI like Adobe Photoshop (available on the computers in the design lab in the library) to print it the right size.




I also thought i'd post some photos of one of the Amanita's that I brought to the class. Unfortunately it's color faded with age.







- Tyler the auditing guest

This is Devin,

I have a strange mushroom from a family member's greenhouse. I plan to research and bring to class soon.

Devin

Fungus-Treated Violin Outdoes Stradivarius

Fungus-treated Violin Outdoes Stradivarius

ScienceDaily (2009-09-14)



At the 27th "Osnabrücker Baumpflegetagen," a researcher's biotech violin dared to go head to head in a blind test against a stradivarius -- and won! The new violin is made of wood treated with fungus, and played against an instrument made by the great master himself in 1711. ... > read full article

Amanita Muscaria Formosa

Amber and I found a bunch of these about a mile from my house in down town Gresham. We beleive it to be Amanita Muscaria Formosa. The cap is 6 inches in diameter, and the stipe (from bottom of the cap to the bottom of the volva) is 5 inches long, and 3/4 inch thick.

- Tyler the auditing guest

Hey. I'm down in Rancho Mirage, CA and found some mushrooms. I'm blanking on their names and I couldn't bring my book.

What's Your Project About?

Hey everybody, we are due to present our projects November 20.  The 27th there is no school because of Thanksgiving then December 4 presentations and a final December 11.

I think I am going to do mine on the medicinal properties of mushrooms, or narrow it down to one particular mushroom, or just one bottle of mushroom product.  Or maybe I'll just do an artistic, musical collage of all the mushrooms we have seen over the term.  I don't know.

What is your project about?

No Class Friday the 13th!

No, Bob's not superstitious, this was a planned absence according to the syllabus.  Have a great long weekend!

See everybody November 20!

Lorian