Ecosystem Ripple-effects of Wild Mushroom Foraging

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Ecosystem Ripple-effects of Wild Mushroom Foraging

Ecosystem Ripple-effects of Wild Mushroom Foraging

Foraging for wild mushrooms is becoming increasingly popular and anyone on a mushroom identification group will know that ‘pick-shaming’ (mentioning that someone should not have picked a mushroom that they won’t use) is guaranteed to attract harsh comments and even a removal from the group! While these groups are wonderful for knowledge-sharing and ensuring that mushrooms are correctly identified, they most often fail to teach any sort of responsible foraging etiquette.

Picking and consuming wild mushrooms and other wild foods is a way for us to rewild ourselves and reconnect with our local ecosystems, coming back to the ways of ancient people. However, we must remember the respect and reverence that ancient people had for the land and simultaneously return to that.

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Harvesting the fruiting body of the fungus – the mushroom – has not been found to harm the mycelial network, which is the main body of the fungal organism. Therefore, harvesting mushrooms each season will not negatively affect future harvests or contribute to edible mushroom species becoming endangered. In fact, by using permeable baskets to carry the mushrooms as we traverse the woods, foragers can help the mushrooms to spread more mushroom spores.

Foraged mushrooms in an inappropriate container for spore dispersal

spread their spores further. On that note: picking mature mushrooms that have released most of their spores is essential. However, there are other less-obvious effects of mushroom harvesting that should be considered. Harvesters who do not consider the environment around the delicacies they seek will undoubtedly squash plants, other types of mushrooms, emerging new mushrooms, and insects in their clumsy search. This may have long-term effects on forest floor dwelling species in popular mushroom-harvesting spots, as well as reducing the harvest for all as the season progresses. It is considered good manners to leave behind at least half of the edible mushrooms in an area, for other human foragers. But, what about non-human mushroom lovers? Many animals and insects supplement their diets with fungi, while some rely entirely on them for food. Species of buck across the globe opportunistically forage on mushrooms, with deer able to eat various species that are poisonous to humans. Bears and pigs are also known to enjoy nutrient-dense mushrooms during the fruiting season, as are small animals like squirrels, possums, hares, mice, armadillos, and beavers. Animals like the Australian Long-Nosed Potoroo feed almost solely on mushrooms.
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Foragers will know that slugs, snails, and beetles love to eat mushrooms as any mushroom left for too long after emerging is sure to be crawling with them. Termites and Leaf-Cutting Ants cultivate fungi in gardens, which they rely on solely for food – many of these mushrooms are also edible to humans.

Porcini Mushroom in its Natural Forest Environment.

With minimal studies done on mushrooms in general, especially on their importance in ecosystems beyond the obvious decomposition aspect, it is wise to be careful and respectful when it comes to handling mushrooms. While harvesting mushrooms won’t affect the mycelium, it will affect other species that have relationships with them. If animals and insects don’t have access to their usual nutrient-boosting mushrooms at a certain time of year, this could affect their ability to survive leaner seasons and periods of the disease.

We have no idea of the ripple effect that mass human mushroom harvesting has on greater ecosystems, so let’s be responsible.

Squirrels are one of the many wild animals that consume mushrooms.

When harvesting wild mushrooms, follow the guidelines below:

*Pick just enough for your own consumption.
*Never pick an entire patch of mushrooms.
*Be aware of what else you are stepping on.
*Use a basket for spore dispersal.
*Do the ecosystem service by picking up litter while foraging.
*Don’t pick more than one or two specimens before getting them identified – just because we can’t eat them doesn’t mean that other animals won’t.
*Pick relatively mature mushrooms that have dispersed spores, bearing in mind that some are inedible if too mature.

Resources:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222572829_Mushroom_picking_does_not_impair_future_harvests_-_Results_of_a_long-term_study_in_Switzerland#:~:text=The%20results%20reveal%20that%2C%20contrary,technique%20was%20picking%20or%20cutting.
https://www.naturebob.com/sites/default/files/Fungus%20Consumption%20%28Mycophagy%29%20by%20Small%20Animals.pdf
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/Lect24.htm
https://thegreentemple.net/articles/mycelium-the-future-is-fungi
https://www.susanalexander-truffles.com/animals-that-love-mushrooms-like-we-do/

Written By: Kelly Steenhuisen

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