“There’s so much more to discover on fungi, and it hasn’t really been researched a ton due to a lack of resources,” said Griffin Doolittle, a 23-year-old environmental science major from Virginia, after attending a Science Mondays talk Jan. 27 on the Lincroft campus.
“I just think it’s a big, interesting world,” Doolittle said, after listening to Jason Hafstad from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection speak about the state’s fungal biodiversity. “Anytime I come to something like this, I learn more about that and how little you know about something.”
Held in the SLC, the program drew science buffs from the college community and beyond who came to learn about fungi and its importance.
Here are some of the highlights from Hafstad’s presentation:
There are at least 2,827 lichen species recorded in New Jersey.
Parasitic fungi attach themselves to other fungi, bark and notably insects to obtain energy.
Lichens can be a good signifier for air quality, but this is not always true.
Reindeer lichens look like moss but they are, in fact, fungi. When they’re hard, they can crumble and break in your hands. When they’re soft, they’re like a sponge.
Mushrooms have many different traits and parts, including gills.
Most of those who attended have a curiosity about fungi and a love of the environment. After listening to Hafstad, attendees had a variety of responses to the program.
“Fungi are really important, and it’s great to highlight everything that we’re learning about fungi,” said Jeremy Zulo, a 30-year-old lawyer, from Marlboro, who has an interest in fungi. “I think it’s really cool that people are starting to learn about how many different types of species there are and just how much we still are learning.”
Dennis Macnamera, a 66-year-old with a profession in agriculture from Keyport, attended to gain information for a news article he is writing. “I want to write a story about it because as an agricultural researcher, I write a monthly article. Part of my work is journalism. My focus is on native species.”
Science Monday programs take place once a month during the fall and spring semesters.
