Ep. 91: Bioluminescent Fungi, Mysterious Endophytes & the Mushrooms of Vanuatu (feat. Brian Perry PhD)

Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we have the privilege of speaking with Brian Perry PhD, Associate Professor of Biology at California State University, East Bay. He received his Master's Degree from San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Dennis E. Desjardin, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University where he studied with Dr. Donald H. Pfister. Brian has been studying fungi since 1995, and has published over 45 papers in scientific journals. In addition to studying the evolution of fungal bioluminescence, he also conducts research on mushrooms and other fungi of Vanuatu, the assembly and biogeography of island fungal communities, endophytic fungi of Hawaiian plants, and the systematics of Mycena and allied genera. Brian teaches several mycology courses at Cal State East Bay and the Sierra Nevada Field Campus, and recently launched a Sierra Nevada Mycoflora project.   TOPICS COVERED:   Raised with an Appreciation for Nature  Mycological Influence of Dr. Dennis Desjardin  Why Do Some Mushrooms Glow?  Exploring Evolution of Fungal Bioluminescence  Biochemistry of Bioluminescence  Biology & Ecological Roles of Endophytic Fungi  Applied Use of Endophytes  Fungal Ecology of Tropical Islands  Research in Vanuatu  Vanuatu’s Indigenous Culture  Ethnomycology Among Vanuatu’s Indigenous Peoples  Tropical Island Phylogeography & Biogeography  Biogeographical Mysteries  Rise of Citizen Mycologists  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Dr. Brian Perry Website: https://www.perrymycolab.com/CSU East Bay Website: https://www.csueastbay.edu/directory/profiles/biol/perrybrian.htmlProf. Dennis Desjardin: https://biology.sfsu.edu/faculty/desjardinMetrosideros polymorpha (plant species): https://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/met-poly.htm   Blue Coprinopsis (fungi): https://steveaxford.smugmug.com/Fungi/Basidiomycetes/Coprinoid-fungi/Blue-Coprinopsis/   Schizophyllum commune (fungi): https://www.mushroomexpert.com/schizophyllum_commune.html   Coprinellus disseminatus (fungi): http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinellus_disseminatus.html   Mycena californiensis (fungi): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycena_californiensis