Description:Crusts are an artificial assemblage of fungi that look vaguely similar due to their resupinate (growing flat against the substrate) morphology. With DNA sequencing mycologists have discovered that crusts are actually spread out across almost all of the subphylum Agaricomycotina (phylum Basidiomycota). As a result when discussing the ecology of crust fungi we are sampling a vast diversity of life history strategies that has evolved over hundreds of millions of years. Far more than just wood decayers (although there is much to be said about saptrotrophy) this talk showcases the grand ecological dynamism of crusts and their broader importance for ecosystem functioning – from terrestrial to marine environments roots tips to rock bottoms basements to shipyards and more. After this presentation you will certainly feel greater appreciation and wonder for crusts and won’t ever be able to look at them as you did before! About Alden Dirks:Alden Dirks has had fungi on his mind extensively and obsessively for the past six years since he first learned about wild mushroom foraging. He first grew his chops with the Boston Mycological Club and Farlow Fungarium at Harvard University learning general mushroom identification from local experts and DNA sequencing skills from Harvard mycologists via a fungal diversity survey of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Following this life-changing experience Alden moved to the Midwest to pursue an MS degree in agroecology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Here he researched arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associating with switchgrass a large perennial biofuel crop; founded the Madison Mycological Society; and met Dr. Karen Nakasone who taught him much about crust fungi and encouraged his interest in this understudied form group. Currently Alden is a PhD graduate student with Professor Tim James at University of Michigan conducting research on false morels and their production of the mycotoxin gyromitrin. Moonlighting as a corticiologist Alden has gained some recognition for his work with crust fungi because he was the first person to buy the domain name CrustFungi.Com. Scoring big he decided to turn it into a website that would serve as something akin to MushroomExpert.Com but specifically for crusts. He is slowly bringing the website to life but it may be a decade or so before it is broadly useful for identifying a wide range of crusts across North America – stay tuned.