Dr Neale Bougher

Qualifications

• B.Sc. Hons. 1st class. University of Western Australia, 1981.
  Thesis: Coprinus species as fungi introduced into Western Australia.

• Ph.D. Jointly University of W.A. and CSIRO Division of Forest Research, 1988.
  Thesis: The Ectomycorrhizal and Systematic Status of the fungal genus Descolea.

• Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar 1990 - 1991.
  Research: Elucidating novel phylogenetic affinities in Hymenogaster based on southern hemisphere taxa.

Profile

I am a Mycologist - Senior Research Scientist in Science Division. My role is to acquire, apply and communicate an improved understanding of Western Australia's fungi and their pivotal roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. This role is addressing a major gap in the scientific information base currently available for biodiversity conservation in Western Australia, and is adding to the capacity of DEC to document, conserve, and restore the State's biodiversity.

Key aspects of my role center on scientific knowledge enabling: definition and identification of fungi species in W.A., assessment of their conservation status, inclusion of fungi in regional biological surveys, and involvement of fungi in the health and restoration of native animals and plants that depend on partnerships with fungi. Another significant role is to alleviate the current under-representation of fungi in the State's biodiversity reference collections and electronic information systems at the W.A. Herbarium.

Expertise

My scientific expertise in Mycology spans biosystematics and ecological research on fungi. This includes field, laboratory and herbarium based research leading to formally defining a broad spectrum of many previously unrecognized fungi and their systematic relationships, and to understanding and applying the crucial roles and characteristics of fungi for maintaining and restoring plants, animals and ecosystems.

Research Experience

I have about 20 years post-graduate research experience locally, nationally and internationally: mainly generating and applying new knowledge about the biosystematics and ecology of macrofungi, particularly beneficial fungi associated with Australian plants and animals. A major underlying aim of this research has been to monitor, conserve and restore beneficial fungal communities for achieving environmental outcomes and healthy landscapes required by Government, Community and Industry. I have also worked to raise departmental, scientific and public awareness and participation concerning fungi in biodiversity conservation. My publications include scientific, technical, and popular articles/presentations, self-authored books, and web resources.

Research Interests

Beneficial fungi, forest fungi, fungi herbarium, fungi phylogeny, fungi taxonomy, FungiBank, mycology, mycorrhizal fungi, urban fungi, wheatbelt fungi

Current Science Projects

• Fungi biosystematics, herbarium, and information systems to support conservation of W.A. fungi and their associated biota
• Conservation role of fungal food resources for endangered and translocated native animals in W.A.
• Conservation status of W.A. fungi
• Biological survey and community participation in assessment of regional fungi diversity in W.A.

Publications

View Publications here >>

Department of Environment and Conservation.
Western Australian Herbarium
Locked Bag 104,
Bentley Delivery Centre
WA 6983,
Australia

Ph: +61 (8) 9334 0533
Fax: +61 (8) 9334 0515

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