Fungal Ecology of Grasslands & Pastures

Old, unimproved grasslands can be among the richest fungal habitats in temperate landscapes, home to brightly coloured waxcaps, earthtongues, pinkgills and clubs that disappear quickly under intensive management. This course explores the fungi of natural and managed grasslands, from these conservation indicator species to the mycorrhizal fungi that support pasture plants. It explains how grazing intensity, mowing, fertilisers and liming shift fungal communities and why many grassland fungi decline after improvement.

Grassland conservation and the productivity of pastures are often presented as competing goals, but understanding soil fungi can help reconcile them. The course suits graziers, ecologists and conservation managers working with meadows, pastures or parkland. Modules cover identification of key indicator groups, mycorrhizae in pasture plants, grazing management and the effects of nutrient inputs, ending with practical approaches to restoring species-rich grasslands. In the final project, students assess the fungal value of a grassland site and prepare a management plan balancing grazing, productivity and conservation.