Fungal Biosystematics
Introduction
Fungi and bacteria are essential to many of the most basic ecosystem processes: saprobic fungi break down fallen wood and litter returning nutrients to the soil; nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi assist plants to obtain nutrients from the soil; and many groups of fungi and bacteria cause diseases of plants and animals. Understanding the roles of fungi in ecosystems, the impacts of environmental change and disturbance, and the potential impacts of newly introduced organisms all require accurate identification of species.
One of the greatest challenges to understanding the diversity, origins, and ecological significance of New Zealand's fungi are the huge numbers of undescribed species. About 6,500 species of fungi have been reported from New Zealand, but we estimate there are at least another 15,000 species awaiting discovery. Of the species so far reported, about one-third are exotic having been introduced to New Zealand by humans, mostly in the last 200 years. Of the described indigenous species, about half are endemic.
Our fungal and bacterial systematics research focuses on describing and cataloguing the non-lichenised fungi and the plant-associated bacteria of New Zealand. We use phylogenies to understand their origins and their relationships with species from other parts of the world. Maintenance of the ICMP culture collection and the New Zealand Fungal Herbarium (PDD) is an integral part of our research. Information is delivered to relevant biodiversity and biosecurity agencies through the Web (NZFungi database, Fungal Guide, etc.), the Fungi of New Zealand series, formal science publications, and community events such as the New Zealand Fungal Foray.
Groups being actively worked on include the inoperculate discomycetes, the truffle-like fungi, the rusts, and the wood-rotting basidiomycetes. International collaborations in groups not otherwise being studied, such as the mushrooms and the slime moulds, ensure maximum use is made of both the culture collection and the dried collections in the PDD herbarium. Associated commercially funded projects with a strong biosecurity focus have included systematics research on Phytophthora, Fusarium, Albugo, and the pine-inhabiting Lophodermium species.
Research areas
Primary contact: Eric McKenzie
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Primary contact: Peter Johnston
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Primary contact: Peter Buchanan
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Primary contact: Eric McKenzie
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Primary contact: Peter Buchanan
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Primary contact: Peter Johnston
|
Describing the fungi of New Zealand
Fungi of the South Pacific
Guides to the identification of New Zealand's fungi
Plant pathology
Rare and endangered fungi
The distribution and ecology of New Zealand's fungiTools & Services
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ICMP culture collection – International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants
ICMP is an international, publicly available collection of live cultures of fungi and plant–associated bacteria. It has major, worldwide collections of plant pathogenic bacteria, along with rhizobia. The fungal cultures are mainly from New Zealand and the South Pacific region. -
Keys to Russula and Lactarius species in New Zealand
An interactive Lucid 3.4 key to New Zealand macrofungi in the genera Russula and Lactarius.
Primary contact
 | Peter Buchanan Email  |
Landcare Research | |
Phone: +64 9 574 4100 |