Nationality Australian Fields Mycology Name Bruce Fuhrer | Author abbrev. (botany) Institutions Monash University Institution Monash University | |
Notable awards OAM among others (see text) Books A Field Companion to Australian Fungi | ||
Bruce Alexander Fuhrer OAM (born 1930) is an Australian mycologist and fungus photographer. His photographic collection of fungi numbers more than 3000 species.
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Early life
Born in Woollahra, New South Wales in 1930, Fuhrer developed his interest in nature as a boy, exploring the parks and forests of Sydney and the Blue Mountains with his father. At 17, Fuhrer moved to Portland, Victoria. Fuhrer met and was inspired by local naturalists Oswald Lightbody (Ossie) and Alexander Clifford Beauglehole (Cliff). It was during this period that he developed his interest in natural history and joined the Portland Field Naturalists' Club.
Career
Fuhrer began his career as a photographer in Portland in 1955. In 1957 he formed the Portland Camera Club and was its President for six years. He was an inaugural member of the Mount Richmond National Park Management Committee, formed in 1960. Fuhrer joined the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV) as well as the Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc. in the sixties and become Chairman of the Botany Group for three years. He also served on the FNCV Council between 1964 and 1968. In 1961 Fuhrer established the Ringwood Junior Field Naturalist Club and was President for sixteen years of their existence. He later established The Basin Junior Field Naturalist' Club (now the Wildlife Observers Club Inc.) Fuhrer contributed substantial photographs in the first comprehensive illustrative guide to Victorian Flora – Flowers And Plants Of Victoria And Tasmania published in 1968. Already acknowledged as a botanist and photographer, he was invited to judge at the 1970, 1974 and 1978 Victorian Photoflora Competitions.
Fuhrer’s first publication was in 1978 – A Field Guide to the Common Genera of Gilled Fungi in Australia. He has written many books on Australian fungi, including A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. He worked for 25 years in the School of Biology at Monash University. At this time, he co-authored species including Rozites armeniacovelatus (now Cortinarius armeniacovelatus). For this work at Monash University, he received an Honorary Master of Science degree in 1988. Fuhrer was a Senior Technical Officer, Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, at Monash University for the years 1972 to 1996. Fuhrer has discovered several previously undescribed fungal species and described many liverworts. There are four species of fungi and two liverworts named after Bruce Fuhrer. The fungi are Calostoma fuhreri (Desert Prettymouth), Hygrocybe fuhreri , Hypoxylon fuhreri and Mycena fuhreri and the liverworts are Fossombronia fuhreri and Bazzania fuhreri .
Publications
Books authored by Fuhrer, or in collaboration with others: