Species interactions in tree-fungus systems

This international meeting is supported by the NSF-funded project MicrobeNet^Net

Meeting program and registration for remote sessions

What

A four‑day meeting centered on wood ecology, with a particular focus on species interactions within tree–fungus systems. This mini‑symposium brings together leading experts to synthesize the current state of the field, highlight emerging research frontiers, and establish new opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Where

University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS), Michigan, USA. Some presentations will be translated remotely via Zoom, please see the meeting Program page to register for them.

When

June 17-21, 2026 (Wed – Sun)

Summary

A four‑day meeting on wood ecology will be held at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) from June 17–21, 2026. The event will convene researchers from diverse fields, including mycology, entomology, forest ecology, plant and fungal biochemistry, and microbiology, to assess the current state of the field and strengthen international collaboration. Participants will exchange expertise on metabarcoding, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and database development, while also addressing emerging opportunities and challenges in data standardization. The meeting will include a review of species‑interaction data, with special attention to advancing approaches for integrating species traits.

The program will feature interactive talks by leading experts, daily field excursions with demonstrations of sampling methods, and poster or oral presentations by early‑career researchers. Dedicated time for discussion, hands‑on sessions, and well‑paced breaks will help create an intellectually stimulating and collegial atmosphere that supports both formal and informal networking.

Focusing on wood as a habitat (both dead and living) rather than on specific taxonomic groups, the meeting will bring together specialists representing a wide range of methodological and conceptual perspectives. Participants will explore multiple microhabitats, including fine and coarse woody debris, tree hollows, standing and fallen trees, and other substrates. Capturing species co‑occurrences and interactions across these habitats will contribute to the development of more robust ecological data systems. This North American initiative will strengthen existing ties with Nordic research groups studying dead wood ecology and aims to broaden collaborative networks internationally. Through data‑intensive and interdisciplinary inquiry, the meeting seeks to deepen our understanding of lignicolous species and support the integration of this knowledge into land management, education, and conservation.

Because morphological and molecular research on lignicolous organisms remains a relatively underrepresented niche despite the ecological importance of dead wood habitats, the participation of early‑career researchers is especially vital. Providing exposure to a range of current methods, datasets, and research communities will help ensure that emerging scholars remain connected, well‑supported, and engaged in this growing area of ecological science.

Participants

Adam Negrin, Ph. D. Kean University, USA. TBD

Clayton Traylor, Ph.D. Temple University, USA. Postdoctoral Researcher

Clayton Traylor is an entomologist interested in how insects interact with their environment in an ever-changing world. His work primarily focuses on saproxylic insects (those dependent on deadwood for their life cycle), which are extremely responsive to forest conditions and are exceptionally diverse both taxonomically and ecologically. Using community, population, and trait data from observational and experimental studies, his research explores the ecology, interactions, and conservation of saproxylic insects in regard to changing forest conditions.

María Victoria Vignale, Ph.D. Instituto de Biología Subtropical (IBS), Puerto Iguazú (CONICET-UNAM), Argentina. Researcher

Victoria Vignale is an early-career researcher specializing in fungal ecology and plant–microbe interactions, with a focus on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, fungal endophytes, and their roles in plant performance and soil functioning. She also studies wood-inhabiting Agaricomycetes in the Argentine Atlantic Forest, focusing on community composition and their role in natural and forested ecosystems. Her research integrates molecular, morphological, and ecological approaches to understand symbiotic and decomposer fungal networks in diverse environments.

Baptiste Wijas, Ph. D. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, USA, and the University of new South Wales, Australia. Postdoctoral Researcher.

Baptiste Wijas is interested in carbon cycling and the critters that participate in it (from microscopic fungi to large herbivores). Recently, his focus has been on understanding how interactions among various biotic and abiotic drivers drive deadwood decay.

Undergraduate students: Aahana Shani, Shahzaib Tahir, Kean University, USA

Organizers

Maria Shumskaya, Ph.D. Kean University, NJ, USA. Associate Professor

Maria Shumskaya is a plant biochemist currently working on molecular ecology and metabolomics of wood‑inhabiting fungi and their interactions with host trees. Her work examines species interactions in tree-fungus systems, with an emphasis on fungal biodiversity, decomposition processes, and the discovery of biologically active compounds. Deeply engaged in higher education, she integrates research and teaching by involving undergraduate students directly in hands‑on projects.

Supported by

Dmitry Schigel, Ph.D. University of Helsinki, Finland; Lead scientific officer, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Secretariat

Dmitry Schigel is a natural historian focusing on dead wood ecology, beetles, and wood-decaying fungi, and also the creator of the Dead Wood Course which is organized since 2013. As a lead scientific officer at GBIF, Dmitry focuses on global biodiversity data as a scientific evidence for understanding biodiversity, and on the use of GBIF across research fields. See more.