Timo Mendez
@timomendez.bsky.social
Science writer and mushroom specialist. I have a deep interest in mycorrhizal fungi, conservation, and mushroom photography. Check out my website at encounteringfungi.com .
Article I wrote for Rewilding Magazine, also featuring some of my photography. Check it out.
www.rewildingmag.com/why-rewilder...
www.rewildingmag.com/why-rewilder...
Why rewilders shouldn’t forget about fungi
These mostly hidden life forms have a big role to play in rewilding – and need its support, too.
www.rewildingmag.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Article I wrote for Rewilding Magazine, also featuring some of my photography. Check it out.
www.rewildingmag.com/why-rewilder...
www.rewildingmag.com/why-rewilder...
I found a cool cordyceps on a stink bug the other day! Pretty rad! What do you think?
July 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I found a cool cordyceps on a stink bug the other day! Pretty rad! What do you think?
Some folks have reached out about the photos I've taken of ectomycorrhizal root tips. I wrote a short article about this for my brand-new Substack. If this sort of long-form content interests you, please subscribe and let me know if you want to see more!
timomendez.substack.com/p/photograph...
timomendez.substack.com/p/photograph...
Photographing Ectomycorrhizal Root Tips
Yep! Geeking out!
timomendez.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Some folks have reached out about the photos I've taken of ectomycorrhizal root tips. I wrote a short article about this for my brand-new Substack. If this sort of long-form content interests you, please subscribe and let me know if you want to see more!
timomendez.substack.com/p/photograph...
timomendez.substack.com/p/photograph...
A recent article I wrote for the JSTOR Daily about mycorrhizal fungi and the carbon cycle. Features my photos as well. Check it out.
daily.jstor.org/the-fungi-in...
daily.jstor.org/the-fungi-in...
The Fungi in the Carbon Jigsaw - JSTOR Daily
Out of sight, below the soil’s surface, fungi play a vital role in the existence and health of our forests, woodlands, jungles, and prairies.
daily.jstor.org
April 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A recent article I wrote for the JSTOR Daily about mycorrhizal fungi and the carbon cycle. Features my photos as well. Check it out.
daily.jstor.org/the-fungi-in...
daily.jstor.org/the-fungi-in...
Ergothioneine is a unique antioxidant with many promising health benefits, including for cognitive health. As this study shows, arbuscular mycorrhizal is crucial in the uptake of this compound by plants, as it is almost exclusively produced by fungi.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Linking soil health to human health: Arbuscular mycorrhizae play a key role in plant uptake of the antioxidant ergothioneine from soils
Evidence has emerged that the antioxidant ergothioneine may be important in preventing many inflammatory diseases in humans. However, ergothioneine is not produced by humans or plants and is only mad....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 16, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Ergothioneine is a unique antioxidant with many promising health benefits, including for cognitive health. As this study shows, arbuscular mycorrhizal is crucial in the uptake of this compound by plants, as it is almost exclusively produced by fungi.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Timo Mendez
Very excited to see this work out by visiting PhD in my group Yuanhao Zhang exploring interactions between clonal plant integration and CMNs! Spoiler they interact in big ways! doi.org/10.1111/ppl....
Capacity to form common mycorrhizal networks reduces the positive impact of clonal integration between plants
Both clonal plant capabilities for physiological integration and common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence the distribution of nutrients and growth...
doi.org
March 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Very excited to see this work out by visiting PhD in my group Yuanhao Zhang exploring interactions between clonal plant integration and CMNs! Spoiler they interact in big ways! doi.org/10.1111/ppl....
Ectomycorrhizal structures are produced by an incredible diversity of fungi. In this new study, researchers documented a fusarium forming EM structures and improving plant health.
imafungus.pensoft.net/article/1432...
imafungus.pensoft.net/article/1432...
March 11, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Ectomycorrhizal structures are produced by an incredible diversity of fungi. In this new study, researchers documented a fusarium forming EM structures and improving plant health.
imafungus.pensoft.net/article/1432...
imafungus.pensoft.net/article/1432...
Looking forward to reading this amazing research by brilliant scientists. Check it out.
Our newest research on plant-fungal trade published today in @nature.com.
The work, led by scientists from Vrije Universiteit, Princeton University, SPUN & AMOLF combines robotics, mycology & biophysics to reveal underground supply-chain dynamics.
Open access:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The work, led by scientists from Vrije Universiteit, Princeton University, SPUN & AMOLF combines robotics, mycology & biophysics to reveal underground supply-chain dynamics.
Open access:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 27, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Looking forward to reading this amazing research by brilliant scientists. Check it out.
And I though Lycoperdon perlartum (Common puffball) was saprobic. This study shows it forms ECM relationships with populus and may improve their resistance to drought.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Lycoperdon perlatum from a coniferous forest forms an ectomycorrhizal relation with and increases drought resistance of Populus × canadensis ‘Zhongliao 1’ - Symbiosis
Plant–fungal symbiotic associations benefit initial plant adaptation to droughty terrestrial ecosystems. Although information on mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in drought-resistant mechanisms in cro...
link.springer.com
February 23, 2025 at 3:51 AM
And I though Lycoperdon perlartum (Common puffball) was saprobic. This study shows it forms ECM relationships with populus and may improve their resistance to drought.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The first description of mycorrhizae was published in 1885, where A.B. Frank first coined the term. His study, commissioned by the Kingdom of Prussia, explored the potential for truffle cultivation. Despite it's age, it's insightful to anyone interested in the subject.
Read it ⬇️
tinyurl.com/ABFrank
Read it ⬇️
tinyurl.com/ABFrank
February 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The first description of mycorrhizae was published in 1885, where A.B. Frank first coined the term. His study, commissioned by the Kingdom of Prussia, explored the potential for truffle cultivation. Despite it's age, it's insightful to anyone interested in the subject.
Read it ⬇️
tinyurl.com/ABFrank
Read it ⬇️
tinyurl.com/ABFrank
An undescribed purple Cantharellus sp. from Tepoztlan, Morelos. Beautiful species, most likely forming mycorrhizal associations with Oak.
February 5, 2025 at 3:39 AM
An undescribed purple Cantharellus sp. from Tepoztlan, Morelos. Beautiful species, most likely forming mycorrhizal associations with Oak.
A wasp infected by Ophiocordyceps humbertii I photographed last summer in the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca.
February 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
A wasp infected by Ophiocordyceps humbertii I photographed last summer in the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca.
I've been looking for EM root tips to photograph with minimal experience in the field. While this study focuses on Himalayan fir, their description of morphotypes is insightful regarding the grand anatomical diversity of these brilliant structures.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 3, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I've been looking for EM root tips to photograph with minimal experience in the field. While this study focuses on Himalayan fir, their description of morphotypes is insightful regarding the grand anatomical diversity of these brilliant structures.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Lactarius indigo is a delicious ectomycorrhizal species found with Oak and Pine in Mexico, Central America, and the eastern United States. There are numerous varieties, which may be broken up into several different species soon. I took this picture near my home in Morelos, Mexico last season.
February 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Lactarius indigo is a delicious ectomycorrhizal species found with Oak and Pine in Mexico, Central America, and the eastern United States. There are numerous varieties, which may be broken up into several different species soon. I took this picture near my home in Morelos, Mexico last season.
Interesting study by Chinese researchers shows that ECM trees in tropical forests sequester more carbon in N-rich soils, while AM tree diversity rises in P-rich soils but stores less carbon. This may be due to lower AM fungal abundance, making AM trees more prone to pathogens.
tinyurl.com/4xzhajus
tinyurl.com/4xzhajus
Mycorrhizal and nutrient controls of carbon sequestration in tropical rainforest soil
Tree mycorrhizal associations have substantial consequences for soil organic carbon (SOC), but it remains unclear how nutrient availability will regul…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Interesting study by Chinese researchers shows that ECM trees in tropical forests sequester more carbon in N-rich soils, while AM tree diversity rises in P-rich soils but stores less carbon. This may be due to lower AM fungal abundance, making AM trees more prone to pathogens.
tinyurl.com/4xzhajus
tinyurl.com/4xzhajus
This new study outlines how canopy trees & understory shrubs can host the same species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. It finds that oaks & pines form overlapping ECM assemblages with Hazel when growing in proximity.
High overlap in the richness and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Corylus shrubs and co-occurring Quercus and Pinus trees
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZRWHX...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZRWHX...
High overlap in the richness and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Corylus shrubs and co-occurring Quercus and Pinus trees
Despite being present in many North American forest understories, the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities associated with Corylus shrubs have received no prior study. To address this knowledge...
www.tandfonline.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This new study outlines how canopy trees & understory shrubs can host the same species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. It finds that oaks & pines form overlapping ECM assemblages with Hazel when growing in proximity.
The common idea that plants "warn" each other of threats through mycorrhizal networks might not be correct, according to this fascinating research. Instead, fungi may act like whistleblowers, detecting plant stress and signaling others in their network to prepare their defenses.
Are plants more likely to be ‘eavesdroppers’ than altruists when tapped into fungal networks?
Read our new theory paper out today in @pnas.org w/ @stuwest.bsky.social @tomwscott.bsky.social
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(photo T. Munita)
Read our new theory paper out today in @pnas.org w/ @stuwest.bsky.social @tomwscott.bsky.social
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(photo T. Munita)
January 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The common idea that plants "warn" each other of threats through mycorrhizal networks might not be correct, according to this fascinating research. Instead, fungi may act like whistleblowers, detecting plant stress and signaling others in their network to prepare their defenses.
Before their extinction 600 years ago, the giant flightless Moa ate and dispersed truffles. This was likely true for many of the 41% of bird species now extinct in New Zealand. What is the best way to approach species conservation when the mutualist dispersers are now extinct?
tinyurl.com/yeznr8ez
tinyurl.com/yeznr8ez
DNA and spores from coprolites reveal that colourful truffle-like fungi endemic to New Zealand were consumed by extinct moa (Dinornithiformes) | Biology Letters
Mycovores (animals that consume fungi) are important for fungal spore dispersal, including ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi symbiotic with forest-forming trees. As such, fungi and their symbionts may be impacted by mycovore extinction. New Zealand (NZ) has a ...
tinyurl.com
January 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Before their extinction 600 years ago, the giant flightless Moa ate and dispersed truffles. This was likely true for many of the 41% of bird species now extinct in New Zealand. What is the best way to approach species conservation when the mutualist dispersers are now extinct?
tinyurl.com/yeznr8ez
tinyurl.com/yeznr8ez
Aureoboletus aff. betula from the Sierra Sur in Oaxaca, growing with Pine.
January 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Aureoboletus aff. betula from the Sierra Sur in Oaxaca, growing with Pine.
Laccaria are early successional ectomycorrhizal fungi, fundamental for the establishment of young trees in various parts of the world. They are also edible. This is Laccaria amythestina s.l. is from Tepoztlan, Morelos.
January 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Laccaria are early successional ectomycorrhizal fungi, fundamental for the establishment of young trees in various parts of the world. They are also edible. This is Laccaria amythestina s.l. is from Tepoztlan, Morelos.
Some ectomycorrhizal root tips I recently had the pleasure of photographing. #mycorrhizal #emfungi #mycorrhizae
January 30, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Some ectomycorrhizal root tips I recently had the pleasure of photographing. #mycorrhizal #emfungi #mycorrhizae
I photographed a tarantula infected by a cordyceps the other day. It was amazing and unexpected. Discovered by friends, inside a cave in complete darkness, near my home. It is likely a new species in the Cordyceps nidus complex.
January 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I photographed a tarantula infected by a cordyceps the other day. It was amazing and unexpected. Discovered by friends, inside a cave in complete darkness, near my home. It is likely a new species in the Cordyceps nidus complex.