Gabel: wilderness essential to biodiversity

Professor Mark Gabel of Spearfish holds a Ph.D. in botany from Iowa State University, is retired from Black Hills State University, and specializes in the biology and natural history of modern and fossil grassland plants.

He has written his support for proposed wilderness designation in parts of western South Dakota in the Sioux Falls Business Journal:

In times of changing climates, the key to stability is high biodiversity, as shown by Dr. David Tillman [sic] and other scientists. Habitat stability is critical for maintaining natural areas and preserving resources for the future. The 1930s Dust Bowl demonstrated the fate of grasslands whose biodiversity had been reduced artificially. Visit the proposed areas at Indian Creek, Red Shirt and Chalk Hills — magical places that are spectacular remnants of the formerly widespread grasslands. Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to support the grassland wilderness in western South Dakota.

His late wife, Professor Audrey Gabel was a tireless advocate for Black Hills habitat and took my calls when i was stumped. She told me oyster mushrooms were the best eating and thought my favorite, Hypomyces lactifluorum, are too tough to eat. From her RCJ obit:

Audrey taught biology at Black Hills State University for 18 years and continued her research on the fungi of the state after her retirement. She is the author of many scientific articles and presented papers at both national and regional meetings. She presented her last scientific talk at the April 2011 meeting of the South Dakota Academy of Science. Audrey along with one of her former students, Elaine Ebbert, also authored a photographic guidebook to fungi of the Black Hills.

South Carolina is one of the last states where foraged fungi may not be sold: fungiphiles are trying to change that.