Costa Rica Fungi

Fungi are a group of living organisms that differ from plants and animals in many characteristics. This is the reason scientists have assigned them a completely different kingdom: Fungi. They are everywhere, from tropical forests to cities, because of their great adaptation capacity. Their function in nature is as a decomposer, transforming organic matter into substances that can be available for other living organisms. More recently, humans have discovered important applications in medicine, industry and food production.

It is not known exactly how many species form this group. Scientists have identified about 100,000 species of fungi in the world, and tropical forests may have as many as 1.5 million species. In Costa Rica, research has revealed the existence of about 2,000 species although it is thought that this number may increase somewhere up to 40,000 or 70,000.

Lichens form a symbiotic relationship between a fungi and an algae, where the algae gives the fungi important carbohydrates from its photosynthesis and the fungi gives back to the algae the humidity that protect it from ultraviolet light. This group is also very numerous, with an estimated 20,000 species in the whole world.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, students will:

Have a better understanding of the natural history, and an introduction to the classification and field work with Macro fungi and Lichens.
Learn first hand information about the natural history of the Macro fungi and Lichens of Costa Rica.
Analyze the importance of the Macro fungi and Lichens on ecosystems and for the human being.

STUDENT PROFILE

People with great interest in learning about this group of organisms. Participants should be in physical condition for gentle hikes in the trails of biological preserves.

METHODOLOGY

This training will start with a presentation about the National Institute of Biodiversity and the importance of the study of Fungi. A visit to Macro fungi Laboratories and to the collections located at INBio will be held. Participants will have lunch at the Heliconia Restaurant at INBio and then will depart to the biological station where the course will take place. Mushrooms

During the course, there will be presentations by specialists, and tours on the trails where participants will have the chance to observe specimens in their natural environment to appreciate their forms, colors, textures and scents. Additionally, laboratories will be held to observe the main characteristics of this group through the use of microscopes, stereoscopes and other field equipment.

THEMES

Fungi and Lichens

What are Fungi and Lichens?
Characteristics
Main groups
Natural history
Ecology
Ecological, medical and commercial importance
Fungi on industry, sickness, food source, alucigenic, venomous fungi,
How to collect these groups?
Equipment used on their collecting
Illustrating main characteristics.

TEACHERS

Instructors are specialists in the Fungi and Lichens groups, members of the Unit of Macro fungi of INBio.

Licda. Milagro Mata
Fungi

Biologist graduated from the University of Costa Rica specializing in Fungi. Milagro has worked at the Unit of Fungi of INBio since its foundation and she is the leader of the National Inventory of Biodiversity of INBio in the theme of Fungi. Milagro has broad experience in identification of species and research. She is the author of the book Macro Fungi of Costa Rica, and of several scientific articles on this theme.

Lic. Loengrin Umaña
Lichens

Graduated in Biology of the University of Costa Rica, Loengrin has worked in the Fungi and Botanical laboratories of the Biology School of the University of Costa Rica and since 1995, working at the Unit of Fungi of the inventory of biodiversity. He is member of the Latin American Micology Society and he was co ? organizer of the ?First International Workshop about Tropical Lichens?. He has broad knowledge and experience in the macro fungi, micro fungi and lichens classification. Loengrin has published several scientific papers on this theme.

José Luis Cháves Cháves
Field assistant

José Luis works on the recollection of material. He also prepares, dries and separates samples of lichens. He carries out the identification and ordering and enters them to the data base of lichens at INBio, as well as the monitory of the lichen collection. He organizes the photographs for the data base and writes the Basic Units of Information. He also distributes scientific information related to new species and data for science, and follows up on the different requests for information (field guides, electronic publications and consultants).