Alan Rockefeller is an American mycologist from who specializes in fungi photography, microscopy, DNA barcoding, and taxonomy.[1][2] National Geographic described Rockefeller as "one of the most well-known mycologists studying psilocybe species. He can rattle off Latin names faster than most people can understand them and has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of mushrooms on the west coast of the U.S."[3] Rockefeller collects and classifies "known and possibly new types of psilocybin and muscimol mushrooms."[4] In addition, through "phylogenetic and microscopic analysis, he has identified several species not described in the scientific literature."[5]
Rockefeller participates in several citizen science projects by identifying fungi on iNaturalist, Mushroom Observer, and Facebook,[5] as well as teaching mushroom photography classes.[6] Rockefeller's iNaturalist images are released under a Creative Commons license,[5] allowing their use as photo illustrations for news articles and sites like Wikipedia. Rockefeller asserts that fungi photography is valuable not just for scientific documentation but "to get people excited about nature."[7] Rockefeller is self-taught, and the San Francisco Chronicle once described him as a "remarkably dedicated volunteer".[8] Mycology is an underfunded field that relies more than many scientific disciplines on independent naturalists for taxonomic extensions.[8][9][10]
Rockefeller worked professionally in information security[8] but "the son of two science teachers...started studying mushrooms in 2001 and has since traveled around the world to find and classify them. Since 2007, he has made annual visits to Mexico and has photographed more than 1,000 fungi species that grow there."[11] His explorations of Mexican cloud forests have included studies of night-fruiting, bioluminescent and fluorescent mushrooms.[12] Circa 2023, Rockefeller and Mandie Quark, in cooperation with the indigenous Sacha-Wasi people, have been working to catalog Ecuadorian fungi species.[13]
Rockefeller was one of the taxonomists who first described Psilocybe allenii and he "recently co-authored a 2020 publication characterizing five Psilocybe species."[11] He also moderates Shroomery.org, a discussion forum for enthusiasts and home cultivators of psychedelic mushrooms, which remain illegal in many/most jurisdictions.[14]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "FreshCap Podcast: Citizen Science & The Beauty of Fungi - Alan Rockefeller (The Mushroom Show Episode #6) on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ KO (November 10, 2021). "Mycologist with a Microscope: Alan Rockefeller | Edible East Bay". Edible East Bay. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Merino, Daniel (February 29, 2024). "A psychedelic surprise may be thriving in your local garden". Science. National Geographic. Michael Christopher Brown. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ Gallagher, Danny (April 30, 2019). "The First Psychedelic Mushroom Con Was a 'Shroom School for the Serious". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ a b c "alan_rockefeller's Profile". iNaturalist. Archived from the original on 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "2022 January General Meeting-Alan Rockefeller on Mushroom Photography | Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz". ffsc.us. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ Fedor, Aaron; McLaughlin, Kathleen (January 19, 2024), Fungi Photographer, Voice of America (voanews.com), retrieved 2024-02-29
- ^ a b c Schwartzman, Lauren; Simmons, Robin; Walker, Nani (April 1, 2018). "The Regulars: For East Bay mushroom hunter, it's not simply fun with fungi". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Fantastic Fungi (2019) - Transcript". transcripts.foreverdreaming.org. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Harris, Richard (June 20, 2021). "Enthusiastic Amateurs Advance Science As They Hunt For Exotic Mushrooms". NPR. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ a b "Alan Rockefeller". Psychedelic Science Review. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Bellman, Sarah (November 17, 2016). "Meet the Man Dedicating His Life to Uncovering Rare Mushrooms". VICE. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Bujalski, Rachel (January 5, 2024). "Life, death and zombie mushrooms: in search of the Amazon's rarest fungi". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ Gonzalez, Tony. "Psychedelic Mushrooms Grow Off Radar." McClatchy - Tribune Business News, Jul 03, 2009.