Introduction to Southern Appalachian Fleshy Fungi & Their Identification - NorthCaro

Introduction to Southern Appalachian Fleshy Fungi & Their Identification
July 27-31 with Mr. Jay Justice, Mycologist; Dr. Richard Baird, Mississippi State University

This course is designed to familiarize the beginning mushroom enthusiast with the biology and ecology of fleshy fungi within the different forest types of Highlands and the surrounding area. Students will learn the basics of macrofungi identification to genus level, using selected keys for macroscopic and microscopic features. Students will practice using microscopes and preparing slides in order to become proficient with using microscopes and preparing fungal tissues properly for identification. Daily activities will include lectures and field trips followed by laboratory time for the remainder of each day. Training obtained from this course will provide a firm foundation for those students that choose to take the advanced two week course on fleshy fungi at HBS taught by Dr. Andrew Methven during alternate years.
Prerequisites & Prior Training: This course is designed for amateur-minded biologists, naturalists and undergraduate/graduate students that have had field biology or botany courses and exposure to dichotomous keys and microscopes. No previous experience with fleshy fungi is necessary. Willingness to work long full days and into the evenings as needed.

The Highlands Biological Station, an inter-institutional research center of the University of North Carolina, is offering its 2015 series of summer courses and workshops that can be taken for undergraduate OR graduate credit toward your academic program. The following list of field-based courses and workshops are focused on the diversity of organisms in the region with special emphasis on identification and collection techniques as well as principles of evolution, ecology and conservation. Scholarships, Grants-in-aid of research for graduate students, and summer internships also available. Highlands, North Carolina, is located in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, at an average elevation about 3,800 feet, and situated near the Nantahala National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Appalachian Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For more information and to apply, visit www.highlandsbiological.org/summercourses/ or call 828-526-2602.