John Wheeler will speak about local mushrooms and their role in the ecosystem at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz).

He’ll go over the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) and mushrooms that get their nutrients by digesting dead or decaying organic matter such as leaves, pine needles, and wood (saprobic fungi). After doing so, he will talk about what fungi he found while surveying Bow Wow Woods that day and also touch on some of the trees that live symbiotically with the fungi. 

DATE: Saturday, September 23

TIME: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

LOCATION: April Hill (Greenagers), 62 N Undermountain Rd, South Egremont, MA

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

John Wheeler found a passion for mushrooms in 1988 and has remained passionate about them since. He is one of the founding members of the Berkshire Mycological Society, established in 2000, and has been leading walks most Sundays since its inception.

This presentation is one of many taking place during this year’s Berkshire Bioblitz that’s taking place on September 23–24, from noon to noon, at April Hill Education and Conservation Center, the headquarters for Greenagers. In addition to the presentations, there will be guided walks and demonstrations led by experts, all of which are free and open to the public. The four slideshow presentations, which range in topics from spiders to fungi, will each last for approximately half an hour and be followed by a Q&A. Click here to learn more about this program and other planned activities.