Stockbridge Sch of Agriculture 590STB - Fungal Ecology

This course explores the diversity, biology, and ecological roles of fungi across ecosystems. Lectures introduce foundational concepts including fungal life histories, symbioses (e.g., mycorrhizae and endophytes), decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal responses to environmental change. In the laboratory, students gain hands-on experience collecting and identifying fungi, quantifying fungal colonization and biomass, and designing experiments to test ecological hypotheses. Emphasis is placed on linking fungal traits to ecosystem processes, integrating field sampling, microscopy, and data analysis to understand how fungi shape- and are shaped by - the environments they inhabit.

STOCKSCH 105, 108, and 301