My academic interests lie in fungal taxonomy, and my research focuses on the systematics of lepiotaceous fungi, with particular emphasis on Leucocoprinus species cultivated by lower attine ants.
In my current project, I investigate Leucocoprinus cultivars grow by the Cyphomyrmex rimosus group, which represents a distinct form of fungiculture within the subtribe Attina. Unlike other fungus-growing ants that cultivate filamentous fungi, this group maintains fungi in a yeast-like form. Because these yeast-like fungi are phylogenetically close to Leucocoprinus mushrooms found in rainforests outside the ant–fungus mutualism, my research aims to determine whether the cultivars are related to these free-living taxa.
I'm also interested in advancing the understanding of Leucocoprinus diversity, its symbiotic interactions with C. rimosus group ants, and its ecological significance in the rainforests of southern Brazil.
E-mail:
salome.urrea@unesp.br
