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October 13-22, 2023 - Continental Mycoblitz on PEI

Nature PEI will be participating in the 2023 Continental Mycoblitz, between Oct 13-22, 2023. Mycologists in the three Maritime Provinces will coordinate the Mycoblitz efforts in our region, to try sequence over 1,000 collections of mushrooms from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This Mycoblitz is a unique opportunity to officially document PEI's fungal diversity.

There are two ways you can participate:

1) Between October 13-22, get out and document, on iNaturalist, all the fungi you can find. Please remember the helpful tips to maximize our ability to confirm identification.

and/or

1) Between October 13-22, collect specimens for DNA sequencing. Specimens collected must be documented on iNaturalist and an excel datasheet, and dehydrated completely, to cracker dry.

If you own a dehydrator and would like to be involved in collecting specimens, contact Ken Sanderson at ken@mushroomsofpei.ca.

Two events will be held as part of the Mycoblitz:

October 14, 2023 1:30 - 4:30 – (RAIN OR SHINE) Rosemary Curley will host a mushroom walk at Souris Striders Clubhhouse, Souris Line Road. Register with Chris Ortenburger chris@naturepei.ca

October 21, 2023 10:00 - 1:00 - (RAIN OR SHINE) Ken Sanderson will lead a blitz of Strathgartney Provincial Park. Participants will spread out to various different trails and habitats in the area and reconvene to go over what was found. Registration in advance is required by emailing: ken@mushroomsofpei.ca

We have passed last years total observations by almost 300 observations and another good month of mushroom weather to go, not to mention the Mycoblitz happening this week! Great work everyone.

We have gathered an estimated 300 specimens for the Fall Continental Mycoblitz, plus many other observations added to the inaturalist project. Great work!

While many interesting fungi were found, one of those observations was a target of the FunDiS Northeast Rare Fungi Challenge, the Parasitic Psathyrella (Psathyrella epimyces), found growing on a shaggy mane mushroom it had parasitized. You may learn more about this mushroom, and the FunDIS Challenge by clicking on the image below.