Biology and Conservation of Mushrooms

This book is in sequence to the one published earlier by the author, “Introduction to Mushroom Science – Systematics”. Part 1 aims to provide the readers with information on important biological features necessary for basic understanding of the subject, while part 2 is being devoted to the newly emerging discipline of conservation. Amongst the vast number of living forms very little attention has been paid to conservation of fungal biodiversity. Fungi are very important in ecosystems for a number of reasons: decomposition of organic matter and establishing nutritional cycle; establishing mycorrhizal association with trees and maintaining forests in good health; natural control of the organisms; being important sources of food and medicine; and serving as indicators of ecosystem health.