iNaturalist
If you want to grow your mushroom identification skills joining iNaturalist is one of the best ways to do it! This platform allows you to upload photos/information of each wild mushroom observation and receive feedback from community members to help with identifications.
Join the hunt!
Microscopy
Many mushrooms can not be identified to species level without a microscope. Learning about fungal microscopy is a great way to play with dried mushroom specimens during the winter months when there is nothing but snow outside. Reach out to Logan Spader at the next mushroom meeting and he will gladly answer any microscope questions that you have!
Pertinent links
- MICROSCOPE TUTORIAL (…HUGE list of keys!)
https://images.mushroomobserver.org/Fungal%20Microscopy.pdf - IDENTIFY MUSHROOMS TO GENUS III
https://files.shroomery.org/attachments/21366346-Optimized%20How%20To%20Identify%20Mushrooms%20To%20Genus%20III%20Microscopic%20Features%20-%20OCR.pdf - GALERINA MONOGRAPH
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/f/fung1tc/AGK0805.0001.001?view=toc - PLUTEUS KEYS
https://alfredojusto.weebly.com/uploads/9/2/0/2/92022628/2014_cervinus_holarctic.compressed.pdf - MORE PLUTEUS KEYS
https://iris.unito.it/bitstream/2318/78430/1/Species%20recognition_4aperto.pdf - GREAT MICROSCOPY PHOTOS FOR MANY SPECIES
https://mundomicroscopicogarciabona.blogspot.com/
DNA Sequencing
There is so much free information online to start learning about DNA sequencing. This process helps properly identify new mushrooms and teaches us about the evolutionary history of each species. Below is a list of links to start your journey in this fascinating corner of mycology.
DNA Sequenced Mushrooms from Eastern South Dakota:
Want to submit your own mushrooms for DNA sequencing? Please visit Mycota Labs for further instructions: https://mycota.com/continental-mycoblitz/
- INTRO TO PCR
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/biotech-dna-technology/dna-sequencing-pcr-electrophoresis/a/polymerase-chain-reaction-pcr - FUNGAL PCR AT HOME SERIES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyaNM6lJmGo&t=3s - ITS SEQUENCING
https://youtu.be/JoltDnGYn3g?si=4tC1xrf0tAOrhYVN - HOW TO PUBLISH A NEW SPECIES
https://imafungus.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s43008-021-00063-1 - Using “‘Proximate analysis and mineral composition of’ will help you avoid most of the pseudo-science trash you’ll find with generic terms while searching online.”
South Dakota Mycological Association 