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Matt Wainhouse

@funganaught.bsky.social
249 followers 226 following 67 posts

Fungal ecology and conservation. Natural England fungi specialist. Tired parent.

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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
New Phytologist @newphyt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
#Viewpoint: Heart-rot is not a disease: reframing wood decay in living trees Wainhouse & Boddy 👇 📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #LatestIssue #PlantScience @funganaught.bsky.social
Fig. 1 Heart-rot and cavities providing important habitat in living veteran trees of (a, c) Quercus robur, (b) Acer pseudoplatanus and (d) Tilia cordata showing exposed adventitious roots.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
We have been on a mission to find this to get it in culture for conservation work. Only found out Monday morning it was on the Kew table! When i ran to get it was gone😭The search continues
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Hi Liz, we've a project on threatened mycorrhizal fungi with Kew and University Reading. We are trying to get specimens get into culture. Do you still have the fruitbody and if so is it in good condition? This sp a high priority for us.
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
British Mycological Society @handle.invalid · 15/09/2026
On the cover of September's Field Mycology: a Violet Coral fungus growing in old pasture at Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire. Read online to find out how the #WaxcapWatch survey has expanded our knowledge of Violet Coral distribution. 👉 fieldmycology.org/index.php/jo... @plantlifeuk.bsky.social
Front cover of the September 2026 issue of 'Field Mycology' journal, with a photo of Violet Coral fungus growing in grass by Jennie Smith.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Check out our new paper in New Phytologist. Me and Fungal Prof. Lynne Boddy, setting the record straight on heart-rot in living trees...... Its not a disease and what's more, critical for functioning tree and forest ecosystems.
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
BBC News: Mass trespass staged in PM Andy Burnham's constituency "They walked on to the Winstanley Hall estate in Wigan as part of their calls for a change in the law to bring in a Scottish-style right of responsible access to land and water that is privately owned." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Mass trespass staged in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Makerfield constituency
Protestors walked on to a private estate in Wigan as part of their calls for the right to roam.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Hi Stevie, I'm the fungi specialist at Natural England. We have a project with Cardiff University on Hericeum erinaceus. It would be great to get some more information on this record. Would you be able to message me to continue the conversation?
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
is this in the UK? We are looking for samples of this to get it in culture for a species recovery project.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This is a really cracking review paper
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Heart-rot is not a disease! Our latest article in @newphyt.bsky.social setting the record straight on heart-rot, wood decay and why we need more hollow trees.
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
The Linnean Society of London @linneansociety.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
New Blog! 📣 There isn't much room for fungi in the fossil record, yet here Isabelle Pola discusses the discovery of one of the oldest ever found! From Cretaceous period sedimentary rock, these fossils help to reshape our understanding of how modern ecosystems developed. buff.ly/3hp1vOd 🧪
buff.ly
In Early Cretaceous Forests: There's Mushroom for Fossils
Discover the latest news from The Linnean Society of London.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
my suggestion, would be that they look at some of the extensive waxcap grasslands in the upland fringe that currently have no protection, but should be classed as wildlife rich priority habitat
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
is raising the leaf mediated by plant or fungus? If the latter, then presumably raising the leaf aids dispersal? like zombie ants climbing trees
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
😍 Great to see some lichen love from April Windle of the @britishlichensociety.org.uk, plus our own Bill Bealey explaining how our LicheN app is used for measuring sensitivity to nitrogen pollution Featured on BBC News ⤵️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🧪
bbc.co.uk
How lichen hold the secret to a breath of fresh air
An app uses lichen to help monitor air quality in places like the New Forest.
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
British Mycological Society @handle.invalid · 11/02/2026
Publishing, reading and reviewing papers in BMS #journals helps support and promote fungal biology #research, #education, recording and #conservation. Find out how to access the journals, or how to submit your #mycology research or field studies here: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/publications...
Front covers of the four BMS journals
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
IUCN SSC Aquatic Fungi Specialist Group @iucnaquafungi.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
🚨NEW WEBINAR🚨 Join this webinar in celebration of the @reversethered.bsky.social day. @iucnaquafungi.bsky.social member @huzefaraj.bsky.social will present about a newly identified genus of freshwater ascomycete fungus. Other 2 exciting talks lined up. Registration: tinyurl.com/yja95rmv
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
It would also be really interesting to look at species assemblages in overlapping vs not overlapping climatic areas to indicate whether different species are responding to different factors. is there a plan to do this?
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Great - that would be super useful. on the WT map the Lost Rainforest area seems to show the max area based on the different climatic measures rather than the minima. Woodland type is a spectrum, so feels like the latter is most important for planning temperate rainforest.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
it would be interesting and useful too see a figure/map showing where these areas are. Has one been produced?
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Great #biodiversity messages in packed meeting: don't forget the funga! #FungalConservationPledge
Placards about protecting fungi
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) @spun.earth · 27/01/2026
Are you a researcher translating fungal science into real conservation action? 📣 Call for abstracts now open 📍14–17 April 2026 in Uppsala, Sweden 🔗 Apply: www.slu.se/en/fce2026/ ⏰ Deadline: 25 Feb 2026
slu.se
Fungal Conservation in Europe: Evidence to Action
We are delighted to invite you to the upcoming meeting: Fungal Conservation in Europe: Evidence to Action which will take place in Uppsala, Sweden 14-17 April 2026.
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
This incredibly cool new research shows that the first really big large organism on land was not a giant fungus, as many gave hypothesized. It was so chemically different from fungi that the authors propose "this enigmatic organism is best assigned to an entirely extinct eukaryotic lineage."
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Håvard Kauserud @drhyfe.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
New ms on BioRxiv by Ronold et al: Long-term shift in community composition of deadwood fungi after clear-cutting www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Rupert Read @rupertread.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Fungal Ecology 🍄 @fungal-ecology.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
In this review in Fungal Ecology, Håvard Kauserud (@drhyfe.bsky.social) argues that while the ITS region is by far the best DNA (meta)barcoding marker for fungi, we should not use it naively or simplistically doi.org/10.1016/j.fu...
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Jennifer Anderson @jandbio.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Don't miss this chance to learn about Joint Species Distribution Modeling from Dr. Otso Ovaskainen! 🟠 foundations of JSDM 🟠 applications to fungal ecology 🟠 demo in R 🟠 questions Brought to you by #GEOBON and #MoSTFun ( #BiodivMon #Biodiversa+) @mostfun.bsky.social @geobon.org @biodiversa.eu
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
we looked at the lichen irecord data for the red list - i think it was 90% Xp!
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Dr. Danny Haelewaters 🏳️‍🌈🍄🪰🦇🔬🧬 @dhaelewa.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
New paper! Here we present the history, geographical distribution, and structure of organizations in #mycology across #Europe, as well as their activities—including journals, magazines, meetings, educational initiatives, and #citizenscience projects. doi.org/10.1007/s105... #FunDive
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest @asrainforest.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Want to learn more about lichens in 2026 (and why wouldn't you??) Scottish Lichens are running a series of distance learning courses. The first is lichens on trees
buff.ly
Lichens on Trees
Have you ever taken a closer look at the wide range of lichens that grow on the trunks, branches and twigs of trees, and wanted to learn more about what these lichens actually are and why they have…
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Thanks! yes seen this, but no time to write anything up 😔 I'll just look forward to reading it instead
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Our @bes-cascade.bsky.social survey of ecologists asked which socio-political changes might be most effective in the biodiversity & climate crises Broad-scale transformative changes were most selected Biodiversity or carbon credits, use of AI, & de-extinction were each selected in <1% of responses
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Correction - 'wildlife-rich habitat' is in the EIP glossary and refers to Table 2 in this doc: publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/... Essentially priority habitats with some extras
publications.naturalengland.org.uk
Environment Act Habitat Target – Definitions and Descriptions - TIN219
The long-term legally binding Environment Act habitat target is to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of a range of wildlife-rich habitats outside of protected sites by 31st December 2042. T...
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Still overlooked. Fungi were namechecked in the Species Recovery section of the EIP25. and Lichen and Boletes are at least on the oficial Extinction Risk Index. There are a handful of Priority species
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
These are just habitat classifications and they do not specify which are 'wildlife-rich'. To the best of my knowledge W-R has not been defined in the context of the Env. Act or EIP25. So what counts? Should 'wildlife' mean animals, or plants and fungi, soil too? e.g. CHEGD grasslands ?
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
British Mycological Society @handle.invalid · 02/12/2025
Our 2026 field mycology events include a workshop for beginners to build knowledge & develop skills, and practical field meetings for those more experienced in fungus recording. Find all BMS events here: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/events.html
Group of grey-brown mushrooms on a green background. Credit: Trish Bloodworth, Runner up in 2026 UK Fungus Day photography competition.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
i dont actually think there is even a definition of 'wildlife-rich habitat'. If you find out what it means, please let me know
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
British Mycological Society @handle.invalid · 27/11/2025
Job opportunity with the BMS: Events Officer. Part-time, flexible hours, home based. Covering conferences, training workshops, field meetings & outreach events. Working closely with staff & volunteers. Deadline: Friday 12 December 2025 Details: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/vacancies.html
A collage of 5 photos from different BMS events.
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
👩‍🔬PhD Disentangling the contribution of above and belowground inputs for soil carbon storage Application closing date: 3rd December Start date: September 2026 Competition funded though BBSRC SWBio DTP (CASE project so good chance of being funded...)
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
👩‍🔬PhD Quantifying the impact of contrasting forest creation approaches on soil carbon stock accumulation Application closing date: 9th January Start date: April/May 2026 Funding: guaranteed through the RECONNECT project
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
👩‍🔬 Postdoc in molecular ecology (3 years) Determining reforestation effects on mycorrhizal connectivity Application closing date: 21st December Start date: April/May 2026
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
📣Exciting mycorrhizal fungi Postdoc and PhDs on the RECONNECT project with my buddy Hannah Griffith at Bristol University cordis.europa.eu/project/id/1...
cordis.europa.eu
Reconnecting underground networks to maximise the flow and storage of carbon in forest soils | RECONNECT | Project | Fact Sheet | HORIZON | CORDIS | European Commission
In order to maximise the potential for habitat restoration initiatives to mitigate our grandest environmental challenges, we urgently need to understand how differing approaches to forest creation aff...
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Mr and Mrs Trellis @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Do you record fungi? If so, please fill in this short Fungus Recorder Online Survey (closes on 30th November)... www.linkedin.com/posts/keiron...
linkedin.com
Fungus Recorder Online Survey | Keiron Derek Brown
Do you record fungi? If so, please fill in our short Fungus Recorder Online Survey (closes on 30th November). The survey is open nationwide and invites everyone involved in fungi recording to share t...
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Great question - but probably the wrong one. What action has the government directly taken as a result of the Pledge? would be a more challenging question to answer
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Matt Wainhouse @funganaught.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social raising a great question of government
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
Jennifer Anderson @jandbio.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Want to learn about #AquaticFungi? Don’t be shy—jump right in. Check out these fantastic first results from Peter—member of the online #AquaticHyphomycete group 🥳 @funaction.bsky.social @fayrnhawk.bsky.social @peterbraubach.bsky.social
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Francis M. Martin @fmartin54.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
We are delighted to let you know that your Plants, People, Planet article 'Demystifying Fungal Systematics: A Gateway to Fungal Literacy and Societal/Ecological Relevance Through Familiar Species' has been published on Early View. nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Demystifying fungal systematics: A gateway to fungal literacy and societal/ecological relevance through familiar species
Fungal systematics can feel overwhelming given the vast species diversity within this kingdom, with numerous subgroups at every taxonomic rank. This often creates a disconnect between the undertsnidn...
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Reposted by Matt Wainhouse
British Mycological Society @handle.invalid · 06/11/2025
Wood-decay fungi play crucial roles in global carbon cycling. In #FungalEcology, Fukasawa & Kimura show how heat stress changes the competitive balance between brown rot & white rot fungi, highlighting how warming could alter fungal community dynamics > www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
detail from Fig 3, Fukasawa and Kimura, Fungal Ecology (August 2025) showing growth of fungal strains on two petri dishes.
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South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre @sewbrec.org.uk · 13/10/2025
The British Mycological Society are surveying all fungi recorders as part of a review on how they share their data. It would be great if anyone who records fungi could complete it (you don't have to be a prolific fungi recorder or BMS member to take part). docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Fungus Recorder Online Survey
This survey is being conducted by the Biological Recording Company on behalf of the British Mycological Society. The survey does not collect any personal or identifying information, ensuring that al...
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IPBES @ipbes.net · 08/10/2025
🍄 Of the roughly 1,300 species of fungi on the IUCN Red List, more than 400 are at risk of extinction. Threats include agricultural expansion, climate change and deforestation. Read more from @mongabay.com :
news.mongabay.com
Nearly one-third of fungi on IUCN Red List are threatened with extinction
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently updated its Red List of Threatened Species to include an additional 482 fungi, bringing the total to roughly 1,300 species of…
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