Use iNaturalist to learn about mushrooms
BY Heather Elson Original Sourced Article thanks to: Cascade Mycological Society
You can use the iNaturalist website to log fungi sightings and also to learn about mushrooms in Tasmania - indeed the world!
If you would like to learn how to log fungi sightings, please visit Fungimap Instructions
https://fungimap.org.au/record-map/ and learn how to log your fungi sightings as part of this worthwhile project.
In this article we will learn how to use iNaturalist to view mushroom observations
Are you curious about where and when a certain species of mushrooms fruits, or just what a particular species of mushroom looks like?
You can use filters on the iNaturalist website to view mushroom observations to find out.
Here are some instructions on how to search for all fungi observed on iNaturalist in Tasmania as part of the Fungimap Project:
Open your favorite web browser, and go to the Fungimap project on iNaturalist –https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fungimap-australia
Scroll down until you see Recent observations (just above all of the fungi pictures)
Click on -> View all (just to the right of Recent Observations)
The INaturalist Observations page will display with all of the Fungimap observations.
Click on ->Filters (upper right corner of the screen)
The following Filter screen will display
Fill in your search parameters. To search for all OBSERVATIONS in Tasmania within the Fungimap project that have been identified, select
-> Research Grade under Show (Research Grade means 2/3 agreement on the mushroom’s ID), and
-> the Mushroom icon under Categories, and
-> Fungimap under Project, then
-> Tasmania under Place
Click on – Update Search.
You should see a list of fungi appearing on your screen. If not, make sure you have LIST view selected on the left hand side rather than Map or Grid.
When you click on a specific specimen, you can see who collected the specimen and who contributed to the ID. The Activity Log sometimes shows people discussing the ID and making their case.
You can leave any of the Filter functions blank or pick different values. For example, if you are interested in a specific mushroom like the Amanita muscaria, type that in Description in the filter dialogue box.
If you want to widen your search area, you can deselect the Fungimap project and just view all observations from outside of the Fungimap project. Just keep in mind that specimens that are within a project will generally have a more reliable ID because projects are most often formed and curated by a group of knowledgeable persons.
