Surveys
MMS can undertake general macrofungal surveys to provide information on fungal numbers and types present including:
- likely mycorrhizal fungi and their host plants (a);
- non-mycorrhizal fungi (b);
- decay macrofungi (both basidio- and ascomycetes) on leaf and woody substrata such as logs and dead trees (c); and
- macrofungi on animal dung (d).
a
b
c
d
Sporocarp (fruiting body) production is sensitive to environmental change, both positive and negative. Fungal monitoring provides information concerning environmental health, as native fungi help maintain the health of ecosystems by building organic matter, sustaining soil nutrient cycling processes, improving soil fertility and promoting plant growth through mycorrhizal associations. In addition, macrofungi can be an important source of food for native animals. Small mammals can have significant amounts of fungi in their diet (up to 60–70% for some animals), and over two-thirds of terrestrial ground-dwelling mammals can be mycophagous.
Macrofungi therefore provide an important link between animal and plant surveys. Regular monitoring programs (cf. comprehensive one-off biodiversity surveys) can be a cost-effective way to determine macrofungal population trends and environmental health at a number of sites.