Roy E. Halling

Major research emphasis has been on the classification, systematics, biogeography, and diversity of mushrooms. Mushrooms are important in the world's ecosystems as primary decomposers, litter binders, and nutrient recyclers. In addition, they form obligate and essential symbioses with forest trees. Up to the present time, my studies on mushrooms have required field work in northern and southern temperate zones of the Americas and Europe, as well as Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Continuing field efforts in these areas will add substantially to general investigations on tropical and temperate fungi.

My field work is coupled with a critical laboratory analysis that includes microscopical examinations as well as molecular analysis. During the past two decades, field and laboratory research has focussed on tropical and temperate South America. Currently, I am emphasizing studies on the taxonomy, phylogeny, mycorrhizal relationships, and biogeography of the Boletaceae (Porcini mushrooms). International collaboration with other specialists is underway to catalog fungal diversity in Central America. Such an inventory will add substantially to our knowledge of the saprobic and mycorrhizal mushrooms beneficial to Central and South American oak and alder forests.

E-mail Address: rhalling@nybg.org

Selected Publications