Jonathan CAZABONNE

Holder of a B.Sc degree in organismal, population, and ecosystem biology, as well as a research M.Sc in ecology and forest ecosystem management, my research aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the diversity (both morphological and genetic) of fungi and their interactions with other kingdoms, with a particular focus on mycorrhizal symbioses and fungus-arthropod interactions. I approach these topics through multiple lenses, including molecular ecology, community ecology, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, literature, and art. The ultimate goals of my research are to (1) contribute to the integration of fungi into biodiversity conservation plans and sustainable, ecosystem-based forest management, and (2) raise public awareness of the key issues embodied by fungi.

I'm currently a Ph.D student at the Forest Research Institute, affiliated with the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. In this context, I study the fungal diversity in the soils of old-growth boreal forests from eastern Canada and their ecological functions. I explore new tools to facilitate and encourage the monitoring of soil fungal diversity at the stand, landscape, and forest territory scales. I'm also a member of #TeamLaboul (https://beetlehangers.org/about-us/), where I study the diversity of Laboulbeniomycetes, a group of fungi dependent on arthropods for their dispersal or as epibionts, and the knowledge shortfalls associated with this largely unknown and neglected organismal group.