Ecology of Oak-Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Sierra Foothills

For his PhD research, Matt Smith studied the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in the xeric oak-dominated woodlands of the Sierra Foothills. Although these low-elevation habitat may seem dry and dusty to most mycologists, Matt found that these habitats host a high diversity of hidden fungal treasures. These woodlands are particularly rich in truffle species but also inconspicuous agarics and cup-fungi. Matt will discuss his work on these under-appreciated fungal communities, including work on host preferences, morphology, and evolutionary relationships of the fungi.

Matt grew up in Sonoma County, attended UC Davis for BS and PhD degrees in Biology and Ecology. In between degrees, he worked as a biological scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, did postdoctoral gigs at Harvard and  Duke, then landed at the University of Florida. Matt is currently an assistant professor in the UF Department of Plant Pathology.  He teaches mycology and is a curator for the UF fungal collection.