Often overlooked and underappreciated, fungi fulfill diverse ecological roles in nature. They act as decomposers, breaking down dead plant and animal material, returning vital nutrients to ecosystems. They form mutualistic partnerships, benefiting a wide range of organisms from plants to animals. Some fungi even exhibit parasitic behavior, attacking living organisms to steal nutrients and sugars. In this presentation, Chance Noffsinger will provide an overview of fungal biology and discuss some of the common, edible, and unique fungi of the Intermountain West!

Chance Noffsinger grew up in Whitefish, Montana and completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Montana State University. Currently, he is a PhD Candidate at the University of Tennessee, where he is studying fungal dynamics in the spruce-fir ecosystemof the Southern Appalachian Mountains. He is lead author on multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications, a recipient of numerous research grants, and a published photographer.