David Leslie Hawksworth

Biography

Profesor Contratado Doctor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Commander of the British Empire (1996), Acharius Medal (International Association for Lichenology, 2002). A mycologist with wide interests in biodiversity, systematics,  and conservation, especially lichenized and non-lichenized ascomycete fugi. He developed methods for the estimation of sulphur doxide air pollution levels using lichens, and contributed to the integration of the classification of lichenized fungi in the overall fungal classification system. His biodiversity interests include estimates of species numbers of fungi which are now generally accepted, and he was instrumental in the current resurgence of interest in lichenicolous fungi. He has been involved in the improvement of the naming procedures for all organisms, and an editor of the last six editions of the now International Code of Nomenclature. He also applies his mycological expertise in forensic science, and environmental mycology.

Research Interest

A member if the SYSTEMOL (molecular systematics of plants and fungi) research group, contributing to studies on various lichen-forming fungi in Parmeliaceae, particularly the resolution of species concepts in some species complexes in the genus Bryoria. Also working on the systematics of various other lichenicolous and lichenized fungi, using molecular and cultural approaches, the total inventory of fungi in a single reserve (using different methods), and the development of lists of generic names of fungi to be accorded special nomenclatural protection under the International Code of Nomenclature (2011).