Date：2010-04-19

Transshiped from：

.au/news/story/fantastic-fungi-at-mt-annan-botanic-garden/

FUNGI might not seem like much when compared to a towering Red Gum, but according to Dr Ray Kearney, its significance is massive.

The Sydney-based scientist will lift the lid on a world within a world next month when he and his wife Elma deliver a lecture at Mt Annan Botanic Garden called Fantastic Fungi - Facts and Findings.
Dr Kearney said without fungi, the ability of the Australian bush to regenerate would be severely depleted. 

“When we have an audience the overwhelming impression is that this is the first time they’ve understood the importance and significance of fungi in the interdependency of species,” he said.
“Most people think of a fungus as something insignificant. We’ve gone beyond that and open up this complex, but fascinating, interesting, beautiful new world.

“It’s a world where fungi have a crucial role in biodiversity.”

The amateur mycologists will give a visual presentation of the fungi of a bushland study area.
The second part will give a summary of the numerous changes in the processes of biological repair, renewal and regeneration after bushfires.

Ray and Elma are responsible for the listing - under the Conservation and Endangered Species Act of NSW - of a community of fungi which includes nine new species and has been legislated as endangered.