MMS Webinar “Know Your Slime Moulds” by Tyson Ehlers

Join Manitoba Mushroom Society for a webinar by Tyson Ehlers “Know Your Slime Moulds”.

Slime moulds, or myxomycetes (often referred to as “myxos”) are single-celled amoeboid organisms that produce delicate fruiting bodies exquisite in form and colour. Once considered a group of fungi (the name is derived from the Greek myxa for slime and mykes for fungi), they occur in many of the same habitats and produce spores for reproduction, but they also behave like animals and are placed in their own phylum (Eumycetozoa) within the classification system. They are elegant and intriguing creatures with a fascinating life cycle and unique ecological role.

Although scientists have known about them for centuries, myxos are understudied and often overlooked and there are many new discoveries awaiting the inquisitive student of nature. In this photo-rich presentation, Tyson will provide an overview of slime moulds: their anatomy, biology and habitats, how to find, collect and identify them, and share some of his recent research and discoveries.

Tyson Ehlers (Bio)

Tyson Ehlers is a professional biologist, ecologist and mycologist based in British Columbia’s Slocan Valley. He has been a naturalist as long as he can remember and shaped his career over 30 years as a field biologist in ecological research and biodiversity studies. He is passionate about the diversity and interactions of the life that surrounds us and his focus is on the rare and often overlooked organisms like fungi and slime moulds. Tyson is co-author of Mushrooms to Look For in the Kootenays and is currently collaborating on a forthcoming guidebook, Slime Moulds of British Columbia, the first of its kind in Canada, expected in 2027. He has documented numerous species new to BC, Canada, and even North America, including a slime mould species new to science, Spiromyxa slocanensis, named after the Slocan Valley, the only place where it has been found. Tyson’s passion for these intriguing organisms is so infectious you will find yourself following him, wading through swamps and forest, crawling over the forest floor for hours at a time to find slime to drool over.

There will also be a Manitoba Mushroom Society meeting prior to and after the webinar regarding Society status, upcoming events, planning winter activities, 2027 Calendar pickup.

Registration is free to Society Members, post-secondary students, NAMA members, and members of NAMA affiliated myco clubs.  You must sign up using THIS FORM.

The room number and webinar meeting link will be emailed to you on November 18.  Your information will be kept confidential and is only used to administer this meeting/webinar.

The photo is of Tyson Ehlers, slime mould hunting, taken by Ryan Durand on 2023 October 19.