Lichen Growth Forms

Lichen Forms on Prezi

I'm going to fall on you

So, I drew this today...The idea is this guy is a tree, but he's been rotted to the core. In fact, he's getting ready to fall on you! He's a liability to your property. You can tell because of all the mushrooms! You can't see it, but he's got a fair amount of lichen too!

I should draw the victim version too!

Social Psych is Funny!

GRE Study!

While it might be a while before I even get a chance to get into grad school, I'm studying the GRE. I downloaded their free prep program (it was quite nostalgic...reminded me of when I was in HS...in the 90's).

Here are some words I missed!

pedantic
impenitent
candor
reticence
whet
plumb: depth
calumniate: falsehood
corroborate: evidence
vestigial

Now I should study! Power up!

Fungus of the Day: Dog Vomit Slime Mold

Fungus of the Day
Dog Vomit Slime Mold

"looks and smells like vomit"

Fungus of the Day: Darwin's Fungus Cyttaria darwinii

Fungus of the Day

Darwin's Fungus

cyttaria darwinii

Recap

A story of penicillin 

Who was Ronald Hare? Lab Assistant, temperature & optimal growth

Why were bed pans important?

Who was Mary Hunt? Moldy Produce

Anne Miller

Cyclosporin = transplant drug, Norway, secret identity!

Today's Story

Wood Rotting

recap tree anatomy

tree bark = armor

How does rotting start?

Need a wound!

1. Bacteria move in; change chemistry, no structural damage
2. Pioneer fungus move in; stain wood, no structural damage
3. Wood rotting fungus move in; starts eating wood

Picky eaters

Prefers either

• lignin (brown)
• results in white rot
• affects mainly deciduous trees
• cellulose (white)
• results in brown rot
• affects mainly conifers

FRUITING BODIES = FALLING FLAG; DON'T GET SUED!

CODIT: barrier against fungi

Things that matter

tree type

• good
• lucust
• cherry
• cedar
• poor
• aspen
• willow
• maple

wound size

bigger hole = bigger CODIT = more stress on tree

tree vigor

stress? 

wounded?

• what to do?
• wound dressing; controversial, mainly cosmetic
• fill hole?
• take care; keep healthy

Rotting affects not only living trees, but dead wood too!

• e.g. In construction, use of wood in buildings
• use resistant species; down side = cost $$$
• use of wood preservatives?
• (CCA)rsenic
• poisons leach out and persist in environment
• copper is highly toxic to marine life
• article read "Danger on the Dock" 
• Erin Brockovich