Mycology

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Mycology

Biology N 010

Life Sciences Center

Institute of Biosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

1

Self-studies

7

Seminars

2

Aims of course

The aim of this course is to enhance PhD students' fundamental knowledge of fungi and fungus-like organisms, their biology, classification and biodiversity, physiology, ecology, and the impact on human life and the ecosystem services they provide.

Main topics

1) history of mycology: world and Lithuanian; 2) structure, reproduction and life cycles of fungi and fungus-like organisms;  3) fungal genetics, physiology and metabolism; 4) fungal ancestry, evolution and phylogeny; 5) classification of  fungi and fungus-like organisms, characteristics of divisions, classes and orders, representative species, their biology, ecology and uses; 6) distribution and biogeography of fungi; 7) role of fungi in ecosystems, life strategies, successions. Role of saprotrophic fungi in organic matter degradation; 8) interactions of fungi with other organisms: plant, animal and human pathogens and the diseases they cause, mycoparasitism, lichens and their ecological groups, diversity of mycorrhizas and their role in ecosystems, endophytic fungi, symbioses with animals; 9) reaction of fungi to environmental changes: lichens and fungi as ecological indicators. Impact of environment and climate change on the development and distribution of fungi, ecological adaptations; 10) changes in fungal communities, their decline and conservation; 11) uses of fungi.

Main literature

Deacon J.W., 2005. Fungal Biology. 4th edn. – Oxford.

Dighton J., 2016. Fungi in ecosystem processes. 2nd ed. – Boca Raton, London, New York.

Dighton J., White J.F. (eds), 2017. The fungal community: its organization and role in the ecosystem, 4rd ed. – Boca Raton, London, New York.

Kendrick B., 2017. The fifth kingdon. An introduction to mycology. 4th ed. – Indianapolis.

Lietuvos grybai (Mycota Lithuaniae), 1991–2020. 1–13 tomai. – Vilnius.

McLaughlin D.J., McLaughlin E.G., Lemke P.A. (eds.), 2001. Systematics and Evolution. In: The Mycota, 8(A). – Berlin.

Moore D., Robson G. D., Trinci A. P. J., 2020: 21st century guidebook of fungi. 2nd ed. – Cambridge.

Mueller G. M., Bills G. F., Foster M. S., 2004: Biodiversity of fungi. Inventory and monitoring methods. – Amsterdam.

Nash T. H., 2008: Lichen biology. – Cambrigde.

Ulloa M., Hanlin R.T., 2017. Illustrated Dictionary of Mycology, 2nd edn. – St. Paul, Minnesota.

Webster J., Weber W.S., 2006. Introduction to fungi. 3rd edn. – Cambridge.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam or seminar presentation

The exam is written and oral, and consists of 5 open questions that require detailed answers. Two points are awarded for a correct and complete answer to an every question, 1 point for an incomplete or partially correct answer, 0 points are awarded for an incorrect answer or no answer at all.

Requirements for the seminar: duration of the seminar – about 60 minutes, duration of the oral presentation – 30-40 minutes, duration of the discussion – 20-30 minutes. At least 30 scientific publications must be discussed at the seminar. A printed and electronic presentation of the oral report must be submitted before the seminar.

Evaluation criteria:

• structure, scope and duration of the seminar report (the structure is clear and logical, there are all the necessary parts (introduction, the topic and its relevance, goals and objectives, thematic chapters, where the analysis of mycological research methods, results, conclusions and references are presented), the work is of appropriate scope (3 points);

• analysis and conclusions: the analysis is detailed, the conclusions are substantiated, formulated on the basis of the analyzed material (5 points); if the analysis is performed but not complete, the conclusions are not always substantiated, 2.5 points are awarded, no points are awarded for a superficial analysis;

• scientific style: sources and citations are treated appropriately; wording, style and citation of references meet the requirements of the scientific work (2 points).

Ernestas Kutorga

Jurga Motiejūnaitė

Dr. (HP)

Dr.

Prof.

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sciences Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman