Mycology Article for Beginners
Those with an interest in how fungi are classified under modern phylogeny as well as having a review of the way in which mycology has progressed from a purely morphological (and largely incorrect) scheme to one based on molecular biology would do well to get hold of an article by Clakr University's David Hibbett in the current issue of Mycological Research, the journal of the British Mycological Society. Entitled After the gold rush, or before the flood? Evolutionary morphology of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomyces) in the early 21st century, the article is written particularly for beginning mycologists and so made comprehensible for laymen as well, recaps the evolution of fungal systematics from the 19th century works of Fries and Persoon to the present day. Along the way, it offers an excellent snapshot of what we've come to understand about the evolution of fungi and how we've arrived at that knowledge.
Unfortunately, the article is not freely available to the public. Those without a subscription or access through an institution are going to have to shell out a few bucks for this review. On the other hand, considering the expense of books on the subject, it's a pretty good bargain. There's enough here to give even a novice a basis to decide upon what books to buy and such an individual will undoubtedly come away with a great haul of new knowledge.
An abstract can be viewed by clicking the DOI link in the citation below:
Hibbett, DS. 2007. After the gold rush, or before the flood? Evolutionary morphology of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomyces) in the early 21st century. Mycological Research 111: 1001-1018. doi:10.1016/j.mycres.2007.01.012
