Survey of Mushroom Biodiversity in Hocking County, Ohio, USA

Abstract

True fungi and fungus-like species are a widely dispersed and highly diverse group of organisms. There is a lack of awareness about the ecological importance of macrofungi in forested landscapes. Further, there is little information about the biodiversity of mushrooms in Ohio, particularly in the southeastern part of the state. The main goal of this study was to complete the first inventory of mushrooms at Capital University’s Primmer Outdoor Learning Center near Logan, Ohio. Field surveys (n = 5) were completed within the 74 acre property every 2 to 4 weeks during the summer from May to August 2019, largely conducted in the woodlot near the streams, in the forest edge, and along the forested ridge above the wetland. Of the 21 species inventoried in this study, 18 were classified in the phylum Basidiomycota and 3 belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. False turkey tail (Stereum lobatum), dryad’s saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), and turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) were found throughout the entire study. Notable mushrooms included smooth chanterelle (Cantharellus lateritius), crown-tipped coral (Artomyces pyxidatus), and dryad’s saddle (C. squamosus). Future work involves designing community programs and educational activities to promote citizen science, increasing public awareness of macrofungi, and conducting additional mushroom surveys on site particularly during the spring and fall seasons. Management recommendations for the university field site include closing several of the trails to the public to minimize foot traffic in the areas of highest mushroom biodiversity on site.

Keywords: Fungi, inventory, woodland, citizen science, Hocking Hills

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