Book of Abstracts (PDF) - International Mycological Association

IMC7 Friday August 16th Lectures
course on 'biology' (at any level) should naturally include a
major input dealing with fungi. The traditional division of
biology into animal biology and plant biology still rules -
from the school curriculum to the university degree
programme. Changing this blinkered (and essentially
ignorant) view of the natural world is likely to take a long
time. We have to create an understanding that fungi form
an essential and normal part of the biology that surrounds
us, and I believe that we need to start with school, and even
pre-school, children if we are to achieve this change in
attitude.
388 - Mycology in Thailand
P. Sihanonth 1 , L. Manoch 2 , S. Rodtong 3* , E. Sangvichien 4
& N. Jonglaekha 5
1 Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand. - 2 Department of Plant
Pathology, Kasetsart University, 10900, Bangkok,
Thailand. - 3 Faculty of Science, Suranaree University of
Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand. -
4 Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok,
10240, Thailand. - 5 Department of Plant Pathology,
Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang
Mai, 50200, Thailand. - E-mail: sureelak@ccs.sut.ac.th
Thailand traditionally has a strong base in plant pathology
and this is continuing. However in the last ten years
mycology has received increasing attention and support in
both the university and government sectors. Mycology,
however, is not seen by the younger generation as a
commercial subject and considerable effort in the
university sector is required to switch on perspective
students. The British Council has recently approved a
higher education link programme between our universities
and Liverpool John Moores University linking with the
British Mycological Society aimed at stimulating the
teaching of mycology through workshops and teaching
manuals. BIOTEC as a government funded organization is
running a number of research programmes mainly targeted
at applied aspects of mycology. This presentation will
review the development of mycology in Thailand through
to the present day and evaluate the current situation and
future prospects.
389 - Conservation of the fungal diversity in Cuba
J.M. Portales
Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, Carretera de Varona
Km. 3.5, Capdevila, Boyeros, AP 8029, Ciudad de la
Habana 10800, Cuba. - E-mail: botanica.ies@ama.cu
One of the main objectives of Darwin Initiative project,
'Fungi of the Caribbean' was to produce national
conservation strategies for fungi in Cuba. The strategy is
based on the analysis of the available information in the
computerised databases of the project and in the Cuban
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Book of Abstracts
mycological literature. This proposal constitutes the first
document that in our country, in the Caribbean region - and
possibly in Latin America - approaches the specific
problem of the fungal diversity conservation and one of the
few ones that exist in the world. The document is
structured in two fundamental parts: in the first one we
offer the most current state of knowledge of Cuban
mycobiota; while in the second part we develop the
strategy and action plan in correspondence with the 'holes'
identified in this study. The goals of this proposition
belong together with those traced in the Cuban National
Strategy of Biodiversity. However, the objectives and
actions answer the particularities that the rational use and
conservation of this important group of organisms has. The
strategy and action plan highlights those areas where basic
information about fungi are lacking, and discusses the best
way to prepare 'red data list' for the fungi. The question of
what scientific society would be most suitable to represent
mycology in Cuba is also addressed, as well as the
importance that has the habitats preservation for the
conservation of the fungal diversity.
390 - Conservation of macrofungi in the Pacific
Northwest United States
T.A. Dreisbach 1* , M.A. Castellano 1 , T. O'Dell 2 & R.
Molina 1
1 USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research
Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3200 SW Jefferson
Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, U.S.A. - 2 Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument, 190 E. Center, Kanab,
Utah 84741, U.S.A. - E-mail: tdreisbach@fs.fed.us
The Northwest Forest Plan was developed in 1994 to
conserve biodiversity and species viability by maintaining
habitat in the forests of the Pacific Northwest United
States. More than 400 species of concern are listed in the
official Record of Decision, including mammals, birds,
amphibians, mollusks, arthropods, plants, lichens, mosses,
and fungi. Of the 400 species, the largest proportion (more
than 50%) is fungi. The goal of the Forest Mycology Team
of the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research
Station, Corvallis, Oregon, is to provide scientific
knowledge on the biology and functional diversity of forest
fungi and to apply this knowledge to fungal conservation as
well as forest ecosystem health and sustained productivity.
Information regarding taxonomy, species distribution and
occurrences, population dynamics, and environmental
variables are essential to improve strategies for species
conservation. We are developing a number of tools to assist
land managers and scientists in this endeavor, including:
survey techniques, population analysis methods, and
habitat-based models for predicting species presence and
potential habitat. Using the 'most noble polypore'
Bridgeoporus nobilissimus as a case study, we illustrate the
concepts, issues, and management approaches relating to
conservation of rare forest fungi on public lands in the
United States.