Myxomycetes of the Sierra Nevada
Dates: June 8-11, 2025
Instructor: Brian Perry and Alison Pollack
Fee: $325 + meals and accommodations fees
Term: Summer 2025
Course Description
An introduction to the biology, diversity and systematics of the Myxomycetes (i.e., slime molds). Students will learn how to locate, collect and study these fungus-like organisms. In addition to lectures and field work, class time will be also be devoted to investigating myxomycetes using light microscopy, and making quality photographic observations.
Instructor Bio
Alison Pollack is a macro and extreme macro photographer specializing in Myxomycetes (slime molds) and tiny fungi. Her passion is finding and photographing these beautiful organisms, especially the smaller ones, to bring awareness to the beauty that exists right at our feet as we walk through the forest. Her goal is to reveal these miniature beauties of the forest in a format that is as much art as science. Alison shares her photographs online where she has amassed a large and enthusiastic following from around the world. Her otherworldly images are captioned with information about her subjects, as well as technical details of her photography process. Alison’s photographs have been featured in dozens of print and online publications, including National Geographic, the Sunday New York Times, Der Spiegel, and Science Weekly. For the past four years she has entered and has been awarded top prizes in the prestigious Nikon Small World photography competition. Alison may be contacted with this email address: detailsinnature@gmail.com.
You can see Alison’s photographs online on:
Instagram: @marin_mushrooms
Facebook: @AlisonKPollack
Instructor Bio
Brian Perry received a PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University in 2006, where he worked on the systematics and evolution of the Ascomycete family Pyronemataceae. From there Brian went on to a postdoctoral position at San Francisco State University and then joined the faculty at the University of Hawaii in 2009 as an assistant professor of Biology. In 2013 Brian accepted a faculty position at California State University East Bay, finally making it back to California where he was born and raised. Brian has been studying fungal diversity, systematics and evolution since 1995. In addition to documenting the mushrooms and other fungi of Vanuatu, Dr. Perry's research focuses on the assembly, dynamics and biogeography of island fungal communities, endophytic fungi of Hawaiian plants, California fungi, the systematics of Mycena and allied genera and the evolution of fungal bioluminesence. Brian teaches both introductory and advanced courses in mycology at CSU East Bay. Brian may be contacted with this email address: brian.perry@csueastbay.edu His website is: https://www.perrymycolab.com
Course Details
Course Schedule
Participants should plan to arrive Sunday afternoon in time for dinner @ 6 pm and to attend an introductory lecture on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. The last class meeting ends at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
Supplies List
Field equipment:
- tackle boxes for collecting specimens
- sturdy knife
- a 10X hand lens or jeweler's loupe
- a small light for searching for myxos
- camera gear for photographing myxos
For a list of recommended supplies with links to examples for purchase, please see this linked document.
Suggested Textbook:
- Myxomycetes - A Handbook of Slime Molds, by Stephenson and Stempen
Lodging and Camping Supplies
Camping gear if you are staying on campus:
- tent and sleeping pad (unless you are staying in our tent with a cot provided)
- warm sleeping bag
- pillow, toiletries, and towel
- flashlight and lantern
- alarm clock
Field gear for everyone:
- day pack
- sunscreen
- insect repellant
- water bottles
- plastic containers for packed lunches
- sense of humor
You might also want to bring:
- camera
- binoculars
- hand lens
- camp chair
Clothing:
The weather in the Sierra Nevada can vary greatly, even in a single day. Be prepared for chilly temperatures at night, even below freezing early in the summer. Rain is a possibility any time, whether forecast or not. Variable weather clothing that can be layered is best: long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, warm sweater and jacket, t-shirt and shorts or skirt, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, sun hat, rain gear, and a warm hat or gloves for cold weather and/or night activities. And, if you come later in the season, bring your swimsuit for afternoon dips in the lakes!