Dr Teresa Lebel is a
taxonomist
In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are give ...
and ecologist who works on
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
, with a particular interest in subterranean truffle-like fungi and their mushroom, bolete, bracket or cup relatives.
Career
Lebel studied at the University of Western Australia (undergraduate and Honours 1989), then Oregon State University (PhD) before taking up a position at the
National Herbarium of Victoria
The National Herbarium of Victoria (Index Herbariorum code: MEL) is one of Australia's earliest herbaria and the oldest scientific institution in Victoria. Its 1.5 million specimens of preserved plants, fungi and algae—collectively known a ...
as a
mycologist (1999-2019), and Editor of
Muelleria. During this time, Lebel undertook a two-year sabbatical on the Ross Beever Memorial Fellowship at
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research (2012-2014). Lebel is currently (2020-) Senior Botanist and Curator Cryptogams at the
State Herbarium of South Australia
The State Herbarium of South Australia, sometimes called the South Australian Herbarium, and having the herbarium code, AD, is located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is one of several State and Commonwealth herbaria in Australia. The Depa ...
.
The
National Herbarium of Victoria
The National Herbarium of Victoria (Index Herbariorum code: MEL) is one of Australia's earliest herbaria and the oldest scientific institution in Victoria. Its 1.5 million specimens of preserved plants, fungi and algae—collectively known a ...
holds over 1200 specimens collected by Lebel, the majority truffle-like fungi. Other herbaria in Australia holding her collections include
Western Australian Herbarium
The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium in Perth, Western Australia.
It is part of the State government's Department of Parks and Wildlife, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Austr ...
,
State Herbarium of South Australia
The State Herbarium of South Australia, sometimes called the South Australian Herbarium, and having the herbarium code, AD, is located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is one of several State and Commonwealth herbaria in Australia. The Depa ...
, New Zealand Fungarium Te Kohinga Hekakeka o Aotearoa,
Queensland Herbarium
The Queensland Herbarium (Index Herbariorum code: BRI) is situated at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is part of Queensland's Department of Environment and Science. It is responsible for disco ...
,
Australian National Herbarium
The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is a heritage-listed botanical garden located in , Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Established in 1949, the Gardens is administered by the Australian Government's Departm ...
,
Tasmanian Herbarium
The Tasmanian Herbarium is a herbarium in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Its Index Herbariorum code is HO.
It is a part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
The earliest plant samples in the herbarium's collection date from early European ex ...
and the New South Wales Plant Pathology Herbarium.
Research interests include: the taxonomy, systematics, diversity and biogeography of Australian macrofungi, in particular the truffle and truffle-like fungi; the effects of disturbance such as fire, logging, introduced weedy macrofungi, and loss of dispersal agents on macrofungal diversity and community structure; plant-fungal-animal-insect interactions, including ectomycorrhizae, mycophagy and co-evolution and arms-races. Communication of research to the general public, students, educators and managers in intriguing ways.
Standard author abbreviation
Selected published names
*''
Cortinarius cinereoroseolus''
Danks, T.Lebel & Vernes
* See also
:Taxa named by Teresa Lebel
Selected publications
Journal articles
Lebel T, Davoodian N, Bloomfield MC, Syme K, May TW, Hosaka K, Castellano MA. (2022). A mixed bag of truffle-like fungi from five different families: Boletaceae, Russulaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Strophariaceae, and Hysterangiaceae. ''Swainsona'' 36: 33-65
Cooper JA, Nuytinck J, Lebel T. (2022). Confirming the presence of some introduced Russulaceae species in Australia and New Zealand. ''Swainsona'' 36: 9-32.
Boxshall AG, Birch JL, Lebel T, Symonds MRE, Callahan DL. (2021). A field-based investigation into ''Agaricus xanthodermus'' (Xanthodermatei) toxicity variation in southern Australia. ''Mycologia'' 113(6): 1123-1135. DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2021.1936851
Davoodian N, Lebel T, Castellano MA, Hosaka K. (2021). Hysterangiales revisited: expanded phylogeny reveals new genera and a new suborder. ''FUSE'' 8: 65-80.
Rixon M, Bayly MJ, McLay TGB, Lebel T. (2021). Investigating galling midges (''Asphondylia''), associated micro fungi and parasitoids in chenopod plant hosts (Amaranthaceae) in south-eastern Australia. ''Arthropod-Plant Interactions'' 15: 747-771. doi.org/10.1007/s11829-021-09853-1
Lebel T, Douch J, Tegart L, Vaughan L, Cooper JA, Nuytinck J (21). Untangling the ''Lactifluus clarkeae - Lf. flocktonae'' (Russulaceae) species complex in Australasia. ''Persoonia'' 47: 1-44
Lebel T, Cooper JA, Castellano MA, Nuytinck J. (2021). Three independent evolutionary events of sequestrate ''Lactifluus'' species in Australasia. ''FUSE'' 8: 9-25
Plett KL, Kohler A, Lebel T, Singan VR, Bauer D, He G, Ng V, Grigoriev IV, Martin F, Plett JM, Anderson IC (2021). Intra-species genetic variability drives carbon metabolism and symbiotic host interactions in the ectomycorrhizal fungus ''Pisolithus microcarpus''. ''Environmental Microbiology''. 23(4): 2004-2020
https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15320
Davoodian, N., Jackson, C.J., Holmes, G.D., Lebel, T. (2020). Continental‐scale metagenomics, BLAST searches, and herbarium specimens: The Australian Microbiome Initiative and the National Herbarium of Victoria. Applications In Plant Sciences 8(9)
Lebel T, Pennycook S, Barrett M. (2018). Two new species of ''Pisolithus'' (Sclerodermataceae) from Australasia, and an assessment of the confused nomenclature of ''P. tinctorius''. ''Phytotaxa'' 348(3):163-186
Orihara T, Lebel T, Ge Z-W, Smith ME, Maekawa N. (2017). Evolutionary history of the sequestrate genus ''Rossbeevera'' (Boletaceae) reveals a new genus ''Turmalinea'' and highlights the utility of ITS minisatellite-like insertions for molecular identification. ''Persoonia'' 37: 173-198
Sheedy E, Matheny B, Lebel T, May TW, Martin B. (2016). Dating the emergence of 13 major lineages of sequestrate basidiomycete fungi in Australia using an augmented meta-analysis. ''Australian Systematic Botany'' 29, 284–302
Dickie I, Nuñez MA, Pringle A, Lebel T, Tourtellot SG, Johnston PR. (2016). Can invasive ectomycorrhizal fungi be eradicated, and how? ''Biological Invasions'' DOI 10.1007/s10530-016-1243-x
Vellinga EC, Kuyper TW, Ammirati J, Desjardin DE, Halling RE, Justo A, Læssøe T, Lebel T, Lodge DL, Matheny PB, Methven AS, Moreau P-A, Mueller GM, Noordeloos ME, Nuytinck J, Ovrebo CL, Verbeken A. (2015). Six simple guidelines for introducing new genera of Fungi. ''IMA Fungus'' 6(2): 65-68
Lebel T, Beever RE†, Castellano MA. (2015). Cryptic diversity in the sequestrate genus ''Stephanospora'' (Stephanosporaceae) in Australasia. ''Fungal Biology'', 119, 201-228.
Lebel T, Dunk CW, May TW. (2013). Rediscovery of ''Multifurca stenophylla'' (Berk.) T.Lebel, C.W.Dunk & T.W.May comb. nov. (Russulaceae) from Australia. ''Mycological Progress'' 12, 497–504.
Lebel T, Vellinga EC. (2013) Description and affinities of a sequestrate ''Lepiota'' (Agaricaceae) from Australia. ''Mycological Progress'' 12, 525–532
Danks M, Lebel T, Vernes K. (2010). ‘Cort short on a mountaintop’ – Eight new species of sequestrate ''Cortinarius'' from sub-alpine Australia and affinities to sections within the genus. ''Persoonia'' 24: 106–126
Newbound M, McCarthy M, Lebel T. (2010). ‘Fungi and the urban environment: a review’. ''Landscape and Urban Planning'' 96 (3): 138-145.
Catcheside P, Lebel T. (2009). The truffle genus ''Cribbea'' (Physalacriaceae, Agaricales) in Australia. ''Australian Systematic Botany''. 22(1), 39-55.
Moore D, Pöder R, Molitoris PH, Money NP, Figlas D, Lebel T (2006). Crisis in teaching future generations about fungi. ''Mycological Research'' 110: 625-627.
Lebel T.(2003). Australasian Truffle-like Fungi XV. ''Cystangium''. ''Aust. Syst. Bot.''16(3): 371-400.
Smith JE, Molina R, Huso MMP, Luoma DL, McKay D, Castellano MA, Lebel T, Valachovic Y (2002). Species richness, abundance, and composition of hypogeous and epigeous ectomycorrhizal fungal sporocarps in young, rotation-age, and old-growth stands of Douglas-fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') in the Cascade Range of Oregon, USA. ''Canadian Journal of Botany.'' 80: 186-204.
Lebel T, Castellano MA (2002). Type studies of sequestrate Russulales. Part II. Species related to ''Russula'' from Australia and New Zealand. ''Mycologia.'' 94(2): 327-354
Bougher N, Lebel T. (2001). Sequestrate (Truffle-like) Fungi of Australia and New Zealand. ''Aust. Syst. Bot.'' 14: 439-484.
Lebel T, Castellano MA. (1999). Australian truffle-like fungi. IX. History and current trends in the study of the taxonomy of sequestrate macrofungi from Australia and New Zealand. '' Australian Systematic Botany''. 12: 803-817
Scheibling RE, Evans T, Mulvay P, Lebel T, Williamson D, Holland S. (1990). Commensalism between an epizoic limpet, ''Patelloida nigrosulcata'', and its gastropod hosts, ''Haliotis roei'' and ''Patella laticostata'', on intertidal reef platforms off Perth, Western Australia. ''Aust. J. Mar. Fresh. Re''s. 41: 647-55.
References
Botanists active in Australia
21st-century Australian botanists
Women mycologists
Australian mycologists
Oregon State University alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Muelleria (journal) editors
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