US Edition
Fungus Enthusiasts Help Scientists Learn More About Them
- On Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, the California Lichen Society led a field trip at the University of California, Davis' McLaughlin Reserve, where scientists and volunteers surveyed lichens and fungi, including the rare Manzanita butter clump.
- Nearly all life-forms depend on an estimated 2.5 million fungi species, which contribute an estimated $54 trillion to the global economy, but scientists have documented only about 155,000 species, prompting boots-on-the-ground surveys.
- Community science platforms like iNaturalist and Mushroom Observer reveal that only two fungal species are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, despite 411 of 1,300 evaluated fungi being at risk, according to the IUCN Red List.
- Community science and annual forays are helping conservationists assess imperiled species and guide resource allocation, as Allen and partners accelerate fungal conservation efforts.
- With logging and development pressing habitats, climate change threats and overharvesting—exemplified by Europe's quinine conk endangered since the 1980s—Mueller says the U.S. needs expanded protections.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Hartford Courant
To aficionados, fungi are freaky, mystical and overlooked. They’re helping scientists learn more
By DORANY PINEDA ANGWIN, Calif. (AP) — Jessica Allen crunched through fallen leaves among Manzanita trees hunting for something few have spotted before: the Manzanita butter clump — a rare and little-known yellow mushroom found, so far, only along North America’s Western coastlines. Related Articles What climate change means for Greenland’s traditional Inuit lifestyle and the world Thousands of CT water customers w…
Associated Press News
To aficionados, fungi are freaky, mystical and overlooked. They're helping scientists learn more
Fungi have long fascinated scientists and aficionados alike. These strange and often misunderstood life-forms are sought-after for food, medicine, building materials, psychedelic journeys and much more.
To afficionados, fungi are freaky, mystical and overlooked. They're helping scientists learn more
Jessica Allen crunched through fallen leaves among Manzanita trees hunting for something few have spotted before: the Manzanita butter clump — a rare and little-known yellow mushroom found, so far, only along North America’s Western coastlines. It was last seen here in California‘s Napa County two years ago, and Allen, a fungi scientist, was keen to find it. But within minutes, something caught her attention. She knelt, pulled a hand lens to her…
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