nature notes: fungi

Nature notes

Fungi

they are a common sight at this time of year. Here, Rosie Strachan, tCV Senior Project officer, takes a look at the wonderful world of fungi.

As summer ends and autumn takes full swing, we might notice some changes in the nature around us. the leaves are beginning to turn, flowers are beginning to hide away, and some of the creatures we see on our walks are starting to prepare for their long winter hibernation. Although autumn is often seen as a month of quieting down, one endlessly interesting feature of our landscape is only starting to pop through and flourish. that being fungi, including mushrooms. mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of certain fungi, so all mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms!

Being neither plant nor animal, fungi are one of the five generally recognised ‘kingdoms’ of living things. there’s a lot more to fungi than just the mushrooms we see on the surface. their full power/potential is yet to be realised, with mycology (the study of fungi) being a relatively young field of science. But many interesting discoveries and uses surrounding fungi are being explored. Being some of the oldest forms of complex life (existing for around 5/6ths of the earth’s lifespan), they are deeply engrained in the functioning of the world’s life systems. Here are some interesting aspects of the fungal kingdom:

Fungi and ecosystems

many discoveries are being made surrounding fungi’s potential in the fight against environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. their importance to carbon sequestration and ecosystem health is one which is, arguably, understated in discussions on climate change and the solutions to it. the large web of underground roots, known as mycorrhizal, work with trees to help absorb carbon from the soil. not only this, but many plants grow in symbiosis with fungi, around 80 – 90%, meaning much of the earth’s plant biodiversity is reliant on fungal relationships. fungi’s ability to improve soil health, take up carbon, and encourage the growth of a variety of plant species make it essential to our environment.

Fungi and pollution

fungi’s ability to decompose is not only essential for forest and many other ecosystems’ health but has the potential to help with one of society’s largest environmental problems: pollution and waste. mycoremediation, the research surrounding how fungi can be used to solve environmental problems, has found some promising ways in which fungi’s unique decomposition powers can be used in oil spill clean-ups, and to remove dangerous contaminants. there has also been investigation into fungi’s decomposing effects on radiation. their ability to break down substances such as petroleum can bring a natural, more cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable way to deal with pollution and the presence of harmful chemicals on earth.

Fungi and agriculture

with the environmental impact of our farming activities being a major issue of today, fungi’s potential to help in this sector cannot be understated. regenerative agriculture is a large point of discussion, as we try to find ways to work with nature within our farming practices. As mentioned previously, fungi’s symbiotic relationship with plants and soil health can have obvious positive impacts on farming and food growth, but additionally there has been potential discovered in their ability to act as a natural pesticide. Certain fungi species have been seen to control insect and pest populations. removing the need for chemical pesticides is something essential to soil and ecosystem health and can contribute to a much more sustainable form of agriculture.

Fungi as food

fungi are a food source for wildlife including red squirrels, deer, slugs, snails and many insects. And of course, cultivated mushrooms and some wild varieties such as ceps and chanterelles are edible for humans, but the golden rule is neVer pick wild mushrooms unless you’re 100% sure they are safe to eat. the best way to enhance your knowledge of fungi is to learn from an expert. fungi and wild food foraging walks are increasingly popular, and there are also fungi identification courses from organisations including the field Studies Council – see below.

references:

fungi in ecosystems – (bettersideoflife.net) https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus/ mycorrhiza do fungi feast on radiation? – Scientific American How fungi Can Clean up Pollution – Biological Strategy – Asknature fungi can help forests tackle climate change. Here’s how | world economic forum (weforum. org) friendly fungi help forests fight climate change – BBC news (Pdf) mycoremediation - a potential tool for sustainable management (researchgate.net) (Pdf) mycology: a neglected megascience. (researchgate.net) (Pdf) role of fungi in Agriculture (researchgate.net)

Encouraging fungi

with their many uses and importance to the natural world, cultivating fungi can be a great thing to do for your local environment. one of the easiest ways to encourage fungi is to leave some deadwood in a suitable garden corner or woodland setting where you don’t mind a little untidiness. As the wood gradually rots, fungi will make an appearance.

Science has often neglected fungi, with many of its discoveries only coming recently compared to other fields such as botany. However, the potential is now being realised, and we are finding the ways we can benefit from this incredible kingdom. we are only just beginning to tap into the fungal kingdom’s weird and wonderful properties. with their unmatched decomposition capacities, essential and mutually beneficial relationship to plants, and impact on soil, they can have numerous positive effects on our society and can make the fight against climate change infinitely more productive. if we work with their natural properties, we can produce benefits for the environment and people alike.

Find out more:

the field Studies Council runs training courses in fungi identification at many of its centres, including those in Scotland. readers of this Bulletin are eligible for a 20% discount from all field Studies Council courses in Scotland. to claim your discount simply add ‘TCV20’ to the ‘Voucher code’ when checking out of course booking. Course information and booking details are available here

Scottish fungi British mycological Society natureScot – fungi