There's more to mushrooms than meets the eye.

Fungi are more than a pathogen eating your trees or the mushroom in your meals. Not a plant or an animal, fungi are dynamic organisms that help decompose and recycle the nutrients in organic materials and form beneficial relationships with plants. About 400 million years ago, fungi were the catalyst that prompted life to move from the sea to land. Today, fungi contribute to resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change. 

Discover the vital role the unassuming fungus has in connecting and balancing Illinois ecosystems. 

Presenter: Karla Griesbaum, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator. This webinar was originally recorded on May 9, 2024. 

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction 

1:42 Form and function 

12:12 Fungi as disease 

17:17 Saprotrophs 

18:27 Fungi as mutualists 

28:48 Lichen 

31:42 Climate change and community structure 

36:47 (Some) edible mushrooms of Illinois 

47:08 Questions

Learn how small changes can have positive impacts on our environment through the Everyday Environment Webinar Series.