Lichens of Morwell National Park

By Simone Louwhoff

For those interested in lichens, there is now a brochure on the Lichens of Morwell National Park with 83 images of common and/or conspicuous lichens including Peltigera dolichorhiza, Xanthoria parietina, Usnea and Cladonia species, Pertusaria pertractata, Ramalina celastri and many others that people will recognise in the field.

The brochure is 10 x 22 cm and is printed on glossy, high quality paper. It consists of 12 panels of which 9 have photos of lichens, grouped according to growth form and/or colour (crustose, fruticose, light foliose and dark foliose). These are interspersed with text boxes containing facts about some of the lichen groups mentioned.

       Xanthoria parientina         
   (Ken Harris)      

A map of the park, showing tracks and vegetation categories (EVCs) takes up two panels and the last panel has general information on lichens, terminology and useful websites. The brochure is suitable for other areas with similar habitat to that found at Morwell National Park (Ecological Vegetation Classes: damp forest, herb-rich foothill forest, swamp scrub, warm temperate rainforest and wet forest).

Usnea inermis 
      (Ken Harris)   
   

Text is by Simone Louwhoff, photos by Ken Harris and Helga Binder was the graphic designer. The brochure is for sale in the Fungimapbookshop for $5 and proceeds go to Fungimap, South East Australian Naturalists’ Association Inc. (SEANNA), Latrobe Valley Field Naturalist Club Inc. and Friends of Morwell National Park Inc. We hope you enjoy using it!

The brochure is a culmination of fieldwork undertaken from 2007 to 2012 at Morwell National Park. The park is situated in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges, 8 km SE of Churchill in the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland (South-eastern Victoria). It was declared in 1967 and extended in 1987 and is now close to 500 hectares in size. Despite its small size, Morwell National Park contains a range of different habitats including wet fern gullies, dry eucalypt ridges and steep hillsides with tall eucalypt forest.

     Cladonia humilis (Ken Harris)   

The overall aim of the project was to identify and record all macrolichens and the more common and/or conspicuous microlichens and to publish this information. Thirteen tracks intersect the Park, which were divided into sections for ease of surveying. All vegetation, as well as rock and soil in each of these sections were examined for lichens and these were either identified on the spot or collected for identification with a microscope back at the laboratory. Lichens on trees were surveyed up to a height that was accessible (approx 2 m) and in addition any fallen trees in sections were examined to look for canopy lichens. 

Pertusaria pertractata (Ken Harris)

Lichens were recorded photographically for each section and entered into a database which is accessible via a website maintained by the Friends of MorwellNational Park. It is estimated that the surveying method has resulted in the recording of almost all macrolichens and up to 75% of microlichens occurring in the park. The latter are often inconspicuous and also more difficult to identify and hence it is likely that a number of these lichens will remain unidentified for now. 

          Peltigera dolichorhiza (Ken Harris)          

A new fungus poster - Fungi of the Mount Alexander Region

Fungi publication notice #4: Fungi of the Mount Alexander Region poster

by Alison Pouliot

Yesterday a poster tube arrived in the post from Bronwyn Silver.  Inside I found the exciting new poster – Fungi of the Mount Alexander Region.

The new poster was compiled by wonderfully knowledgeable field naturalists who live in the Mt Alexander Shire and are involved in the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (FOBIF).

Fungi of the Mount Alexander Region

FOBIF was formed in the late 1990s by people in the local community who work towards highlighting the significance of the Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands. Among its various goals FOBIF promotes understanding of the natural values of the Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands, their ecosystems and the threats to their preservation.

The poster, which features nine species that occur in the local Box-Ironbark forests was published by FOBIF, with generous financial support from The Norman Wettenhall Foundation. Photographs were provided by John Ellis, Mitchell Parker, Bronwyn Silver, Bernard Slattery and Alison Pouliot.

 
Further to the fungus poster, these inspired folk have also put together a new book entitled, Mosses of Dry Forests in South Eastern Australia, which was launched by Frances Cincotta on 31 May.  

The poster would be a wonderful addition to every classroom, household refrigerator, or any wall anywhere, to get the message out that fungi are a very important part of our ecosystems including Box-Ironbark forests.

Both the poster and the book are available through the Environment Shop at 325 Barker St, Castlemaine or online at www.fobif.org.au

The poster costs $5- (plus postage).

Special Issue on Fungi in Wombat Forestcare Newsletter

Fungi publication notice: Special issue on fungi in Wombat Forestcare Newsletter

by Alison Pouliot

The members of the Wombat Forestcare collectively hold an incredible wealth of knowledge about the biodiversity of the Wombat Forest, including that of its fungi. Several Wombat Forestcare members are also actively involved in Fungimap and contribute fungus distribution records and participate in Fungimap forays.

There are also those who appreciate fungi in a whole lot of other ways. This special issue of the newsletter contains a collection of encounters with the Wombat Forest's fungi expressed through stories, anecdotes, poetry and images.

The newsletter opens with a contribution by David Minter, the president of the International Society for Fungal Conservation. David commends Wombat Forestcare for its "model of good practice" in "recognising the importance of fungi and the need to protect them".

According to newsletter readers, the Wombat's most alluring fungus is Mycena interrupta, the pixie's parasol. But many other species also attracted interest and readers offered fascinating insights into how and why fungi activate people's interest and curiosity.

For example, Cat Nield chose Mycena interrupta because "These tiny little beauties with their perfect form and amazing colours remind me how much of our forests can go unnoticed and unappreciated. I am fascinated by these delicate miniature fungi hiding in the cracks of a log or perched on a shed piece of bark amongst the litter”.

Kim Percy chose Tremella fuciformis because "The translucent ghost like quality of this fungus takes me to another world. Imagine it as an enormous entity, floating through space or holding it up to the light and seeing the forest through its milky membrane. Its simplicity is its beauty – a spirit being of the forest floor”.

Bronwyn Lay's poetic appreciation of Mycena interrupta beautifully expresses how these tiny forms can so powerfully capture one's heart and imagination.

Mycena interrupta, image: Alison Pouliot

little blue

by Bronwyn Lay

Single small beauty is the forest’s still small voice,

Poised above the earth on crumble wood,

You are turquoise lover trying to give cover.

You bring waves inland so a spot of sea

is seen in the biotic debris.

Petite wonder among the giants,

Your soft canvas holds a regal

head waiting to be taken by the wind.

Until the body breaks its blue

Through soil’s centre.

But for now, in this quiet,

Knowing you will vanish,

I breathe close to spores

Wee colour that feeds the world.

Little friend suspended.

Forgive me,

I think

I might have

Perhaps,

Maybe,

fallen

in love.

Terrific fungus photos were also received from the newsletter's youngest contributor, Ari Scheltema, aged six years. Others told of unexpected fungal discoveries in the Wombat and the many ways in which fungi are appreciated including their ecological roles, aesthetics, medicinal and edible qualities and how for some, encounters with fungi have inspired an ethic of care.

Enormous thanks to all those who contributed their impressions of the Wombat Forest's fungi.

The newsletter is available as a PDF at the Wombat Forestcare website.

Special issue on fungi in Philosophy Activism Nature (PAN)

Fungi publication notice #3: Special issue on fungi in Philosophy Activism Nature (PAN) journal  

By Alison Pouliot                              

It's not often that fungi receive attention in academic journals in disciplines other than the sciences.  I was therefore delighted to be approached by environmental philosopher, Professor Freya Matthews from LaTrobe University who proposed a special issue on fungi for the Philosophy Activism Nature (PAN) journal.

Long-toed Salamander and Candellaria. Image: copyright  Steven David Johnson

I think back to the fungus workshop where I met Freya when she asked, "Are fungi sentient?"  Her question was a refreshing change from the more common queries, "What's this mushroom called?" and "Can I eat it?"  Admittedly, I'm rarely able to provide satisfying replies to any of these questions, but Freya's prompted possibilities to explore the many dimensions and disciplines through which we might consider fungi.

A second boon came with Dr John Ryan's offer to come on board as co-editor.  A post-doctoral research fellow at Edith Cowan University, John's background in environmental philosophy and eco-criticism along with his editing experience has made the process significantly more pleasurable and professional. 

Mycena cystidiosa with rhizomorphs. Image: Alison Pouliot

The PAN journal explores the "underpinnings of environmental thought and the discursive changes needed to shift society towards a new ecological culture of sustainability".  The journal differs from those where fungi papers are more likely to be published in that it provides a cross-disciplinary forum, exploring ideas at the interface of ecology and environmental philosophy and other disciplines through various formats including peer-reviewed scholarly papers, essays and poetry.

The special issue on fungi represents contributions from fields as diverse as mycology, lichenology, botany, poetry, philosophy, anthropology, law, fine arts, sociology, microbiology, ecology, entomology, photography, outdoor recreation, natural history and social psychology.  An impressive and dynamic mix!

Without wanting to reveal everything, themes in the special issue range from fungal diversity and conservation, to fungal spore dispersal mechanisms, interspecies ethnographies, human thrush entanglements, ecological jurisprudence, mycopoetry, to the curious habits of slime moulds and beyond.

As far as we are aware, this is the first special issue in an Australian academic journal to bring together these broad-ranging approaches to the fungal kingdom.  As readers of the Fungimap Newsletter would only be too well aware, fungi are largely overlooked in Australian biodiversity conservation.  Presenting a variety of lenses and perspectives through which to consider, or reconsider this kingdom, will hopefully inspire possibilities for new interest and audiences.  The greater the interest, the greater the chance that fungi might receive more focus in biodiversity conservation. 

Lamproderma species have iridescent peridia. Image: CC-BY-SA 3.0 Sarah Lloyd

The good news is that the PAN journal can be accessed free of charge via the Monash University repository directly via the PAN website.  PAN is distributed by Informit Press and is also available for subscription.

Personally, partaking in this project has made the already amazing fungus kingdom even more compelling.  We hope you enjoy this special issue on these very special organisms.