Miss Mariana Or Mari Pelin Villani

(she/her)

Overview

I am a PhD researcher jointly based at Cardiff University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, supervised by Sarah Christofides, Lynne Boddy, and Torda Varga. My research sits at the intersection of fungal ecology and evolution, focusing on the formation and function of mycelial cords and rhizomorphs, with particular attention to Marasmius species. I compare tropical and temperate Atlantic forests to understand how these complex mycelium structures work.

Over the past decade, my work has explored the relationships between fungi, ecosystems, and traditional knowledge. In Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park, I spent two years documenting fungal diversity, co-authoring a mushroom guide, and working with local communities on education, conservation, and sustainable tourism through the Micotrilhas Turísticas project. This experience sparked my interest in phylogenetics and the use of genetic tools to support communities, as well as in rhizomorph-forming fungi for their ecological roles and their use by other organisms, including birds and Indigenous artisans.

I have also collaborated extensively with Indigenous communities in North America, worked with Agroecology, and contributed to the Fungi Foundation’s Elders Project, helping to develop ethical guidelines for ethnomycology. I hold a Master’s degree in Agroecology and Food Sovereignty from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy, where my thesis focused on the fungi associated with Ötzi the Iceman. I'm passionate about the many different ways fungi can be used.