LAMS General Meeting

Speaker: Syrena Whitner, PhD

Program: “The Final Frontier of Marine Life: How Fungi Shape Our Seas”

Fungi are ecological miracle workers within terrestrial ecosystems, harboring the ability to shape food webs and drive nutrient cycles as both parasites and mutualists. And although many people share a sense of curiosity and fondness for terrestrial fungi, surprisingly little attention has been given to their enigmatic marine counterparts despite their abundance and suspected ecological significance. This talk explores the evolutionary history of marine fungi, their adaptations as extremophiles in inhospitable environments, their intricate relationship with coral and plankton health, and their surprising abilities to aid in the decomposition of marine plastics. Join us in examining these integral, yet understudied, components of marine ecosystems and their broader implications for environmental sustainability!

More information about LAMS events, including a biography of the speaker, is available on the LAMS Calendar page.

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