NNMK25000U Tropical Mycology Field Course

The course provides an overview of the diversity, taxonomy, ecology, morphology, and evolution of higher fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) through an intensive field and laboratory-based program in the Amazonian forest of Brazil. Emphasis is placed on field mycology techniques and the identification of fungi based on macro- and microscopic characters. Students will be trained in collecting, documenting, preserving, and processing fungal specimens, as well as in microscopy preparation and observation. Scientific literature on fungal morphology, ecology, and taxonomy is integrated throughout the course and discussed in relation to the collected material.

The course combines field surveys with laboratory work, enabling students to follow the full workflow from specimen collection to identification and documentation. A particular focus is given to insect-associated fungi, saprotrophic fungi, and wood-decaying taxa, including ecologically and evolutionarily significant groups such as entomopathogenic “zombie-ant” fungi (Ophiocordyceps), bioluminescent fungi (spotted during nightwalks), and fungi associated with insect agriculture (leaf-cutter ants).

Communication during the course is primarily conducted through a dedicated WhatsApp group, which facilitates rapid coordination of logistics, sharing of scientific papers and data, and continued interaction among participants during field activities in Brazil. The Absalon platform is also used to provide course materials, schedules, and supporting resources.

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Field component

The core of the course consists of fungal biodiversity surveys conducted in Amazonian forest ecosystems. On the first day at Reserva Ducke, the students receive an introduction covering collecting methods, safety, curation practices (data and specimens). All field activities are conducted under the supervision of instructors and local field guides. We are usually split into groups of 5-7 people for the surveys.

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Initial field phase (Rio Negro expedition)

The first three days of the course are spent aboard a vessel navigating the Rio Negro, providing an introduction to Amazonian ecosystems:
    •    Day 1 – Departure and introduction:
Onboard discussions introducing Amazonian ecological systems, including contrasts between blackwater and whitewater rivers as we stop exactly in the middle of the river where both waters encounter each other. Initial collecting at river margins introduces sampling routines.
    •    Day 2 – Vegetation gradients and collecting :
Field visits to várzea (flooded forest) and terra firme forests focus on fungal diversity across habitats. Practical training includes field note-taking, specimen labelling, and preservation.
    • Day 3 – Integration and preparation:
Final collecting and synthesis discussions, preparing students for intensive surveys and laboratory work at the field station. This night is spent in Manaus, including a group dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel (included in the course fee).

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Ducke Reserve (Days 4–10)

At Reserva Adolpho Ducke, students engage in structured field and laboratory activities:

    • Day 4 – Introductory training:

In the morning, a bus from INPA will take the students from Manaus to Reserva Ducke.
The first day at the field station is dedicated to lectures and hands-on training. This includes an overview of the major fungal groups encountered during the course, detailed instructions on collecting techniques and safety, and practical training in the use of stereo and compound microscopes. This ensures that all participants are prepared for independent laboratory work in the following days.
    • Days 5–8 – Field and laboratory workflow:
From 9AM to 2-3PM are dedicated to field surveys and specimen collection, followed by afternoon laboratory sessions focusing on specimen processing, microscopy, and identification until dinner time 6PM. Laboratory activities usually resume after dinner for those interested.
    • Day 9 – Laboratory synthesis:
Completion of specimen processing, additional imaging, and preparation of results for presentation.
    •    Day 10 – Student presentations:
Group presentations (15 minutes) on  3 selected fungal groups per person, followed by discussion and feedback. Farewell party at the reserve with grilled Amazonian fish and Brazilian barbecue.

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Assessment

Between Days 5-8 , each student should collect, process, identify, database and properly store at least one specimen a day.

At Day 10 , students should select 3 species collected along the surveys in day 5-8, providing detailed macro and microscopic photos indicating the traits used to identify the specimens and why those species are particularly interesting to them.

Following the field course, back in Denmark, each student prepares an individual written assignment based on 3 species collected during the course. The report should follow a scientific paper format including a title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results with taxonomic descriptions (including macro- and microscopic features and illustrations), as well as a discussion placing the species in ecological and taxonomic context. Feedback is provided individually, with the possibility of follow-up discussions. Written essay should be uploaded up to 7 days after the course.