Ph.D. Environmental Biology and Ecology. University of Alberta. 2006.

B.Sc. Botany. University of Toronto. 2000.

Awards:

Department of Biological Sciences, Teaching Assistant Letters of Commendation (2001-2, 2003-4, 2005-6)

Department of Biological Sciences, Excellence in Teaching Award (2004-5)

Mycological Society of America, Best Student Oral Presentation (2004)

Faculty of Science, Graduate Teaching Assistantship Scholarship (2000 - 2005)

J Gordin Kaplan Graduate Student Award (2002)

Department of Biological Sciences, Travel Support (2002)

Challenge Grant in Biodiversity (2001 - 2002)

Research Interests:

Development and evolution of cephalothecoid cleistothecia in the Ascomycete

Taxonomy and systematics of fungi in the Sordariomycetidae

The development and function of fungal structures in the Ascomycetes that facilitate dispersal by arthropods

Current Research:

My current research examines the evolution and development of cephalothecoid cleistothecia in the genus Chaetomidium. Cleistothecia of this type have an outer layer composed of numerous plates of tightly packed cells, which give these fruiting bodies a paneled, or soccer ball-like appearance. While originally considered a monophyletic trait, recent phylogenetic analyses have revealed that this particular character has evolved independently in multiple, unrelated taxa, and a number of different developmental pathways have been described. Cephalothecoid cleistothecia break open along pre-formed lines of dehiscence when allowed to dry, which facilitates spore liberation. Isolates of cephalothecoid species obtained from the bodies of arthropods along with in vitro examinations of interactions between invertebrate and fungal specimens have revealed that, for some species, the peridium encourages disruption by large-bodied arthropods, ostensibly to promote spore attachment and dispersal. Within the genus Chaetomidium approximately 50% of currently recognized species produce cephalothecoid cleistothecia. The dichotomy in fruiting body architecture in Chaetomidium therefore presents a unique opportunity to examine how the cephalothecoid character evolved in this particular taxon.

The purpose of this research is two-fold. A combination of molecular and morphological data will be used to accurately circumscribe the genus. These data will then be used to re-construct the phylogeny of Chaetomidium to investigate the evolution of cephalothecoid peridia and the stability of this character at the generic level.

Publications:

Greif M, Currah RS 2006 Development and dehiscence of the cephalothecoid peridium inAporothielavia leptoderma and a proposal to transfer the species to Chaetomidium. Mycological Research (In press)

Greif M, Currah RS 2006 Patterns in the occurrence of saprophytic fungi carried by arthropods caught in traps baited with rotted wood and dung. Mycologia (In press)

Greif M, Gibas CF, Currah RS 2006 Leptographium piriforme sp. nov., from a taxonomically diverse collection of arthropods collected in an aspen-dominated forest in Western Canada . Mycologia (In press)

Greif M, Tsuneda A, Currah RS 2004 The development and dehiscence mechanism of Cryptendoxyla hypophloia, a cleistothecial ascomycete isolated from the bodies of arthropods. International Journal of Plant Science 165: 957-964.

Greif M, Currah RS 2003 A functional interpretation of the role of the reticuloperidium in whole-ascoma dispersal by arthropods. Mycological Research 107: 77-81.

Conference seminars, poster presentations, and other scientific contributions:

Greif M, Gibas CF, Tsuneda A, Currah RS 2006 Catinella olivacea – an ascostromatic fungus masquerading as an inoperculate discomycete. APS CPS MSA Joint meeting. Quebec City , Quebec . (Poster).

Greif M, Gibas CF, Currah RS 2006 A new species of Leptographium from arthropods collected in an aspen-dominated woodland in western Canada . APS CPS MSA Joint meeting. Quebec City , Quebec . (Presentation).

Greif M, Currah RS 2005 Arthropod dispersal of cycloheximide resistant fungi in central Alberta . Plant Canada , Edmonton , Alberta . (Presentation).

Greif M, Tsuneda A, Currah RS 2005 A structural analysis of peridial development in Aporothielavia leptoderma has ecological and taxonomic significance. Plant Canada , Edmonton , Alberta . (Presentation).

Greif M 2004 Don’t Panic! A fungal hitchhikers guide to the galaxy (the role of the peridium in spore dispersal) Bot 600 University of Alberta (Invited speaker).

Greif M, Currah RS 2004 A survey of arthroconidial fungi isolated from insects. Mycological Society of America annual meeting, Asheville , North Carolina . (Presentation).

Greif M, Currah, RS 2004 The development and function of the cephalothecoid peridium in Cryptendoxyla hypophloia. Mycological Society of America annual meeting, Asheville , North Carolina . (Presentation).

Greif M 2003 Hitchhikers and stowaways; A review of insect mediated dispersal of fungi. Ent 620 University of Alberta (Invited speaker).

Greif M, Currah, R.S. (2002) Ascocarp impalement: A novel mechanism of dispersal in cleistothecial ascomycetes. International Mycological Congress 7, Oslo , Norway . (Poster).

Greif M, Currah RS 2001 Is the gastroid inoperculate discomycete genus Myxotrichum dispersed by arthropods? Canadian Botanical Association annual meeting, Kelowna , BC . (Presentation).