Rare or ignored? Working with the citizen science community to survey potentially endangered fungi in the UK

Abstract

We know that there are many species of fungi in the UK (around 15000 at the last count), but for most we have little idea about where they are or even whether they still exist. Over 2000 fungal species are known only from a very small number of sites. Others have been very infrequently recorded over the past 50 years, and have either significantly declined or been forgotten about. Some species are only recently described or potentially invasive recent arrivals. But how can we determine if these species are genuinely rare, or if they’re overlooked? The only way is to go out and look, and to encourage as many people as possible to go out and do the same. The Lost and Found Fungi (LAFF) project is a five year (2014-2019) fungal conservation project aiming to address some of these problems. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, LAFF is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and supported by the British Mycological Society, the British Lichen Society, and fungus recording groups and individuals throughout the UK. Working with volunteers, LAFF aims to establish baseline distribution data for 100 target species of current or potential conservation concern, by discovering new sites, undertaking surveillance of current sites, and rediscovering populations at historically known sites. Curated datasets supported by vouchered specimens at Kew will be used to formally Red List assess the target species towards the latter part of the project, and to establish baseline distribution datasets to help conserve populations and assess trends in the future. In parallel, LAFF has been working to increase the capacity of fungus enthusiasts to meet the challenges of fungal conservation, providing outreach to amateur fungus enthusiasts and recorders via the LAFF website, social media, email, fieldwork, and group visits. Assistance and mentoring have been provided in the forms of identifications, taxonomic advice, workshops, and encouraging amateur taxonomic and survey work. The LAFF project is also addressing some taxonomic issues surrounding species of current conservation concern, volunteer-submitted rarities, and taxonomic novelties. Outcomes to date include ~900 new records of 59 target species (>20% of all records and sites for these species in Britain), >170 vouchered specimens, and >250 “bycatch” specimens of rarely recorded or poorly understood fungi. Some species appear to be much more widespread than previously thought; some apparently extinct or “lost” species have turned out to have been overlooked; and others appear elusive and may genuinely be rare. Volunteer submissions have allowed taxonomic and distribution reassessment of some species, e.g. Entoloma bloxamii s.l. By engaging with fungus enthusiasts, and demonstrating the effectiveness of co-operation between volunteers and supporting institutions such as Kew, LAFF provides a model for future fungal conservation work in the UK and further afield.