Summer Seminar Aquatic Ecology: Maiko Kagami - Swimming fungi

Maiko Kagami is professor at the Yokohama National University, Japan. Her research is on the discovery of diversity and functions of aquatic fungi in lakes, rivers and oceans. She uses a range of tools, including field observations, microscopes, DNA analysis and incubation experiments.

Aquatic ecosystems harbour an unexpectedly rich diversity of undescribed fungi in a wide range of habitats, from lakes and oceans to snow and ice, and even artificial environments such as sewage systems and algal farms. Among these, the enigmatic "zoosporic fungi" emerge as prominent players. These fungi produce zoospores -motile stages with flagella - to actively seek out and consume various organic materials. While some zoosporic fungi parasitize algae, plants or amphibians, others act as saprotrophs, decomposing organic matter such as pollen or carcasses. 

In her talk titled ‘ Swimming fungi: Diversity, Interactions and Functions in Aquatic Ecosystem’, Maiko will cover a general background on aquatic fungi, their diversity and role in ecosystem functioning.

Please contact Dedmer van de Waal if you want to attend the seminar.