Episode 6. Come with us on a foray in Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
The Sporopod visits our local fungi heaven - Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve - in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland of south-east Queensland. This is audio from one of our first forays where we discuss what we find, how to identify fungi and how to use fungi guides. The 5 cent pieces in some photos are used to indicate scale. We also make a terrible discovery!
Into the woods…
Sporopod reported this first sighting of the invasive pest fungus Favolaschia calocera (Orange Ping Pong Bat) in Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve to park rangers at the time of this recording. The infestation was carefully removed and the fungi destroyed. Over the next year, staff located and similarly removed further outbreaks. But, true to the fungi’s reputation as a highly invasive pest, management eventually decided it was too widely spread to remove, and now outbreaks are sprayed in situ with a fungicide. The (previously broken) boot cleaning station at entry to the park was fixed and now visitors are requested to clean their boots before entry to the park - an important biosecurity measure. In addition, staff are educating visitors with an interpretation sign that alerts visitors to the appearance of a fungi outbreak and the use of fungicide to treat it. See images below. The fungi eventually shrivels up and dies, thus unable to release any more spores.
Resources and Links
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Mushrooms of the Sunshine Coast - a fold-out field guide that illustrates 98 ‘mushrooms’ i.e fleshy fungi with caps, stem and gills or spines (teeth) and some fan-shaped fungi
Fungi of southeast Queensland - a fold-out field guide that illustrates some of the variety of fungi that are not typical ‘mushroom’ shapes
Australian Subtropical Fungi - by Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, Patrick Leonard and Frances Guard, this guide brings together some of the astounding fungi from the forests, woodlands, bush and gardens of the Australian subtropics. It describes and illustrates 115 fungi, many for the first time.
Queensland Mycological Society - a community science and education network for the identification and research of Queensland fungi - this is a great society to join with regular forays, workshops and webinars and website with loads of resources.
FungiMap - great website and resource for mycophyles across Australia. FungiMap records and maps the distribution of fungal species over time around Australia, thanks to the work of hundreds of professional and amateur volunteers who send in records of their observations from the remotest parts of Australia to parks and gardens in cities. The best way to submit your records and to get initial help with IDs is through the ‘Fungimap Australia’ project on iNaturalist.
iNaturalist - this is an app and website, providing a place to record, organize and submit your own nature findings, meet other nature enthusiasts, and learn about the natural world. iNaturalist’s identification model provides initial suggestions, but other people in the iNaturalist community help you identify and confirm your observations, on any living thing - fungi, plants, animals, insects… . Once you’ve joined iNaturalist, go to ‘Projects’, and join ‘FungiMap Australia’, so your observations will directly contribute to the Australian records.
Useful equipment! Get yourself a fungi mirror!