Fungi Scavenger Hunt

Basidomycota

Location: Woods near Lake Alice
Environment: The mushrooms were found ins a shaded area with lots of moisture and decaying leaves surrounding them
Positives and negatives of location: Mush-rooms prefer dark, cool, moist, and humid growing environments as well as things that help with nourishment such as water and wood chips. Based on what mushrooms prefer, the location I found it in was optimal, it was well shaded from the sun, which keeps them cool, moist, and rather dark, and they are surrounded by old decaying plants which provides nourishment.

Location: Woods near Lake Alice
Environment: The lichens were found on the east side of a large tree in a pretty shaded area near a trail.
Positives and negatives of location: Lichens need some light to photosynthesize, so it is helpful that the lichens I found were on the east side where the sun rises. Lichens also need a substrate to colonize on, so the tree is an optimal place for it to grow on. Water is also important for lichen growth and photosnythesizing so a location in the woods near Lake Alice is good because there is lots of moisture in the air. Again the location is optimal for lichen growth.

Location: Woods near Lake Alice
Environment: The mychorrhizae were found between leaf litter near a little stream. The area was very moist and the mychorrhizae was originally completely covered in leaves.
Positives and negatives of location: Mychorrhizae prefer to be in soil that is moist and near plants. The mychorrhizae were found in leaves which provide many nutrients, however, it was not found in conjunction with plant growth which isn't as optimal. Although, the dense leaves and moisture were supportive condidtions of its growth.