Rhys Lloyd

BSc (Biology, Swansea University), MSc (Big Data Biology, Cardiff University)

Research

Thesis

The behavioural ecology of cord-forming fungi

I am currently undertaking a PhD on the behavioural ecology of cord-forming fungi, investigating how these fungi respond to their environment, forage for resources, and exhibit competitive behaviours. Despite lacking a centralised nervous system, cord-forming fungi demonstrate complex, adaptive behaviours that can be explored through the lens of decentralised systems or 'liquid brains'. My research involves a combination of fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modelling, utilising recent advances in image processing and network analysis to study the ecological function of fungal networks.