Fungi Field Recorder Day

Fungi are an extraordinarily diverse group of organisms that come in many shapes and sizes. In the UK there are nearly 15,000 described species in the fungi kingdom: thousands of species of mushrooms as well as thousands of more obscure organisms such as powdery mildews, moulds, yeasts and entomopathogenic fungi. Common to all fungi is reproduction through the release of spores and the acquisition of nutrients through breaking down organic matter. The latter ability means fungi play a vital role as decomposers in ecosystems. Recording which fungi species are present on a site provides essential data regarding the distribution, seasonality and ecology of UK species, and also enables site managers to protect rare and valuable species, should any be found to be present.