Calling all citizen scientists and fungi enthusiasts! Over the next two winters, Fungimap will be surveying fungi in South Australia, and we would love you to get involved!

The surveys are part of a 3 year citizen science grant project called Fungi for Function: bushland health indicators, which is investigating whether 28 target fungi species across four functional groups can be used as indicators of bushland condition. The functional groups are plant partners (mycorrhizal fungi), plant transformers (parasitic fungi), recyclers, and lichens. The project is surveying 10 stringybark bushland sites through the Mount Lofty Ranges, 5 in good condition, and 5 in degraded condition. We are simultaneously surveying fungi and habitat.

The surveys will be a great opportunity for citizen scientists and bush carers to learn more about our precious native fungi, and develop the confidence to identify and record these 28 target species, which are all distinctive and commonly found in the Mt Lofty Ranges.

This year’s planned survey dates are:

Mark Oliphant Conservation Park – Saturday 14th June
Mark Oliphant Conservation Park – Sunday 15th June
Mark Oliphant Conservation Park – Wednesday 18th June
Mark Oliphant Conservation Park – Thursday 19th June
Deep Creek National Park – Saturday 21st June
Deep Creek National Park – Sunday 22nd June
McHarg Creek – Friday 27th June
McHarg Creek – Saturday 28th June
Deep Creek National Park – Friday 4th July
Deep Creek National Park – Saturday 5th July
Hope Forest – Tuesday 8th July (YACCA group only)
Hope Forest – Wednesday 9th July (general public)
Belair National Park – Friday 11th July
Belair National Park – Saturday 12th July
Belair National Park – Friday 18th July
Belair National Park – Saturday 19th July
Lenswood – Thursday 24th July
Lenswood – Friday 25th July
Lenswood – Friday 1st August
Lenswood – Sunday 3rd August

The survey days are approximately 10am-4pm, exact times to be confirmed with participants.

If you’d like to get involved in any of the survey days, please complete the registration form here.

Training will be provided by a series of online videos distributed by email. To learn more about the target species we want you to look for, read our project booklet here.

Participating in the surveys involves searching for fungi in sometimes dense vegetation, including up and down slopes which may be slippery at times, and getting down close to the ground. Participants need to be able to use the iNaturalist app on their smartphone, or they will be partnered with someone who can.

For more information or to join the mailing list, contact Sophie Green at fungiforfunction@gmail.com

We look forward to finding fungi with you in beautiful bushland!

This project is supported by a grant from the South Australian Government’s Citizen Science Fund.