Why Dr. Allison Walker wants you to put the “i" in “fungi”

When you think mushrooms, what comes to mind? The one veg option on most menus? An aesthetic adornment in any depiction of whimsical wildlife? The eye-opening experience your friend from high school won’t stop talking about?
Yes, yes, and yes, but fungi are so much more than that! And Dr. Allison Walker (Biology) and her Acadia University lab, known as the Fungal Dream Team, are here to spread the word.
“Fungi make ecosystems function as systems,” says Dr. Walker.
“They connect plants and animals, both by breaking down organic matter into useable forms for other life on earth, and by partnering with plants and animals to improve their health,” Dr. Walker explains.
They’re both important members of ecosystems, and key in maintaining the health of them. “Fungi are nature’s great recyclers, helping to create new life from death and decay. Without fungi, we would be buried alive in dead stuff!”
They are also massive contributors to climate action through carbon sequestration. It’s estimated fungi may contribute to 30% of carbon storage belowground in terrestrial ecosystems.
“And they give us many of the products we love: bread, cheese, wine, beer, cider, and even chocolate is the product of fungal fermentation! Not to mention lifesaving drugs like penicillin and cyclosporine (important immunosuppressive drug used during organ transplantation). They also have important roles to play in the development of biocontrol agents and biofertilizers, reducing the need for chemical inputs in agriculture and forestry,” explains Dr. Walker.
Okay, so fungi are important, but what exactly are they?
The answer? It’s complicated. They’re not quite plants and not quite animals. While they have been recognized as scientifically distinct from plants and animals for decades (the kingdom of Fungi was first described in 1969), they are not treated as such when it comes to conservation frameworks.
But mycologists—scientists who study fungi—are trying to change this.
Just this fall, a proposal was put forward to the United Nations 16th Convention on Biological Diversity to classify “funga” as distinct from flora and fauna, giving them an elevated place in conservation efforts.
This means fungi would be considered alongside plants and animals in major land use change proposals and conservation efforts. If it goes forward, Dr. Walker explains, it “would bring more attention, research funding and education to the importance of fungi and preserving their habitats.”
“I think it’s the best possible thing that could happen for fungal conservation,” Dr. Walker said in an interview with CBC’s The Current about the UN proposal. “They are very much underappreciated, and we need to learn more.”
The Dream Team
The Fungal Dream Team is hard at work to give these underappreciated members of our ecological community the “reputational makeover” that Dr. Walker says they’re in need of through both research and community partnership.
“Acadia students are involved in all aspects of this research,” says Dr. Walker, “from field collections, microscopy and DNA-based identification of fungi, data analysis to publication.” Just take a look at the publications that have come out of the Walker lab to see how prolific they are!
In addition to researching fungal biodiversity and ecology, students working with Dr. Walker get outside the lab through exciting industry partnerships with Nova Scotia companies. From teaming up with a local startup developing a fungal protein product from agricultural plant waste to creating a new craft beer, the dream team’s impact is wide-reaching.
Working with Saltbox Brewery in collaboration with Dr. Russell Easy’s (Biology) lab was one of Dr. Walker’s students’ favourite projects. The craft beer they developed used all local ingredients, including a wild yeast and a new local strain that the students discovered.
But while they’re certainly a dream team, they can’t do it alone; they need citizen scientists (like you!) to get involved.
Fungi needs both “u” and “i!”
“The world needs more mycologists!” says Dr. Walker. “It is an honour to teach mycology at Acadia and to involve students and citizen scientists in documenting the diversity of fungi in Nova Scotia.”
But there are only so many full-time mycologists out there. Participation from citizen scientists allow mycologists to literally cover more ground, and the data they’ve supplied has helped scientists to map rare fungi and expand their known ranges.
In October 2024, Dr. Walker and her team helped to lead a group of eager amateur mycologists on Nova Scotia Mycological Society’s annual foray. “It was great to engage over 100 members of the public from all walks of life from all over the province with forest fungi,” says Dr. Walker. “Folks are always amazed at the diversity of fungi we have in our forests, and enjoy learning about using fungi to dye fabrics and other historical uses as well.”
“We had a great team of Acadia student volunteers who helped make the day a big success, it was our best turn-out ever. We documented 41 fungal species, despite the dry conditions this year.”
She encourages anyone interested in mycology to download apps like iNaturalist, which allow anyone to contribute photos from their very own fungal forays. Data submitted through these apps help mycologists like Dr. Walker to map the distribution of these underappreciated organisms in North America.
“We can discover a new species in our backyards. There’s incredible diversity out there that’s never been described,” Dr. Walker told CBC.
Whether you’re an Acadia student or an amateur enthusiast, there’s room for you in the world of mushrooms. Pull up a (toad) stool and get involved!
Get the Acadia Experience with Dr. Allison Walker
Each fall term, Dr. Walker teaches BIOL 3663: Mycology, and in spring term she teaches a one-day coastal mycology module in the ENVS field school. In Winter term she instructs BIOL: 1123, the second part of introductory biology, which focuses on evolution and molecular genetics. You can also find her teaching fourth-year molecular techniques and scientific writing classes.
For those outside of the university who want to get involved in the wonderful world of fungi, Dr. Walker offers an annual fall workshop in mushroom identification through the Blomidon Naturalists Society with fellow mycologist Dr. Keith Egger.